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.

Italy Strikes Sicilian Mafia Wealth, Seizing Gold, Villas and Cash

Maine GOP hopeful vying for Trump endorsement previously ran birthing clinics catering to migrant women

How Red and Blue America Can Stay Together by Pulling Apart

Florida and Texas are battling for new residents. DeSantis thinks he found an advantage

A critic takes the measure of ‘Bluey’

WATCH: Mace says Trump’s endorsement hasn’t sealed SC gubernatorial race: ‘It’s a dog fight’

GOP firebrand lashes out at reporter over Massie allegation: ‘F— you, first of all!’

Jill Biden says former president will live with stage 4 cancer ‘for the rest of his life,’ has slowed down

Last surviving ‘Rosie the Riveters’ honored by WWII Museum on D-Day Anniversary: ‘We can do it’

Woman allegedly choked subway rider, yelled antisemitic remarks in attack caught on video: police

Girl known as ‘Chelsea Jane Doe’ ID’d 26 years after mutilated body found hundreds of miles from home state

At least a dozen shot near festival in Ohio; manhunt for suspects underway

Steve Hilton launches ad mocking Xavier Becerra’s ’36 years’ as a career politician in California gov race

WATCH – Smug Dem Rep’s Face Goes Totally Blank After a Cool Sec. Bessent Educates Him About His Own Branch of Government

GRAPHIC: The Excuse This Islamist Gives for Raping 250 Women Shows Why Islam and the West Can’t Exist Together

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.”