Actress Evan Rachel Wood Faces Backlash for Calling Kobe Bryant a ‘Rapist’ Hours After His Death

Activist actress Evan Rachel Wood faced a backlash on Monday, after calling Kobe Bryant a “rapist” in the hours after the NBA star tragically died in a helicopter crash.

Wood was lambasted by fans who were aghast that she would bring up past accusations of rape lodged against the player just as the nation tries to come to terms with his death.

“What has happened is tragic. I am heartbroken for Kobe’s family. He was a sports hero. He was also a rapist. And all of these truths can exist simultaneously,” Wood tweeted Sunday only hours after the media reported the player’s death.

The Westworld star was alluding to the accusation of rape that was pressed against Bryant 17 years ago.

Back in 2003, the NBA superstar was accused of rape by a 19-year-old hotel employee who said Bryant sexually assaulted her at The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera in Colorado. Bryant ultimately faced no prosecution when the case was dropped because police found the DNA of another man in the accuser’s underwear. A civil case dragged on until 2005 when the player settled for an undisclosed amount.

But fans were incensed that Wood used her note about the player’s death to dredge up the accusations against him. The liberal actress’s Twitter feed bristled with condemnation.

Woman busted in NYC rabbi syringe attack allegedly stabbed another Jewish man hours earlier: report

Ilhan Omar Accused of Leaking Info to Foreign Leaders in Somalia as Resurfaced Post Brings Evidence to Light

Airbnb Cracks Down on Hosts Treating Guests Like a Free Maid Service

How Is This Legal? Pollster Boosting Dem in Mississippi Admits It Fabricated Most Election Surveys

MAPPED: The states Trump and top Democrats are targeting before Election Day

Young Voters Who Helped Hand Trump White House Are Flocking Back to Dems for the Midterms: Poll

‘Pay the Community’: Trump Pushes Builders to Give Local Americans Extra Payday to Put Up with Unpopular Data Centers

5 victims released from hospital after Florida A&M University shooting, 1 remains critical

‘Nothing Compared to What Is Coming’: Bukele Issues Stark Warning to Haitian Gangs

Trump immigration win could strengthen admin’s hand in looming Supreme Court fight

‘MASH’ and ‘Top Gun’ Star Dead at 93

Is Our Constitution Adequate to Resist Sharia

Six Flags to add seat belts to roller coasters after Georgia rider’s death

Hochul faces revolt from unlikely New Yorkers as Democrats deliver scathing verdict on their party

Man admits beating dad to death in picturesque town decades ago after bragging to cops about ‘first body’

In fact, the condemnation became so heavy, by Monday afternoon Wood put her account on “protected” status so that people not already followed by the actress can no longer see them.

Despite, the move to hide her tweets, multiple outlets had already reported on the opposition she faced over her tweet.

Page Six, for instance, noted that Twitter user Catherine (Kathleen) Curtin scolded the actress, writing, “And this is where the MeToo movement has gotten out of control… attacking a man who literally just died less than 24 hours ago, with his little girl!”

Twitter user Wes Hatton, accused Wood of turning #MeToo into a joke, adding, “These things need to be taken seriously and your [sic] just looking for attention after him, and his daughter JUST died. Wow.”

Actress Kyla Pratt noted that she loves Wood’s work but slammed her for the tweet. “But this tweet? How f–king dare you?” she wrote.

For her part, Wood tried to take a step back and explain her original message

“Beloveds,” she wrote in explanation, “this was not a condemnation or a celebration. It was a reminder that everyone will have different feelings, and there is room for us all to grieve together instead of fighting, everyone has lost.”