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.

Federal judge orders release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from ICE custody

DHS Reveals Historic Number Illegal Aliens Left the US in 2025 – Deportations Were Just a Fraction

Fox News ‘Antisemitism Exposed’ Newsletter: NYC braces for British-style taxes, antisemitism

Democratic Congresswoman Accused of Joining Riot and Attempting to ‘Impede Law Enforcement Officers’

Ex-Kentucky sheriff admits to shooting judge but claims he ‘had no control’ over actions: report

Leftist Code Pink founder praise for Marjorie Taylor Greene stuns social media

Trump declares support for Cabinet official after report he is considering replacement

Local News Claimed Somalis Add to the State Economy, Then the Internet Did the Math – It Didn’t Add Up

Dueling healthcare votes test Thune’s GOP unity on Obamacare

Mamdani Vows to Let Homeless Roam Free, Republican Accuses Him of Leaving Them ‘To Freeze… on the Streets’

Philadelphia teachers partner with organization under congressional investigation for terrorism ties

Democrats target ‘vulnerable’ Republican senators ahead of high-stakes health care showdown

New Jersey’s medically assisted suicide law only covers state residents, appeals court rules

ICE accuses Dem lawmaker of joining ‘rioting crowd’ in Arizona, interfering in mass arrest

Trump rips Indiana GOP leader over redistricting fight, warns Republicans could face ‘MAGA primary’

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.”