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.

‘Fiction’: House Republican campaign chair dismisses Democrats’ expanding GOP target map

Government shutdown hits DHS after Democrats blow up bipartisan funding deal over immigration uproar

DHS enters shutdown after Congress skips town without deal on ICE

AI tool Claude helped capture Venezuelan dictator Maduro in US military raid operation: report

Federal agent attacked and hospitalized during anti-ICE protest in Downtown LA

Pima County sheriff no stranger to controversy as criticism in Nancy Guthrie case ramps up

US military launches deadly strike on drug-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean, leaving 3 dead

Liability or useful foil? Trump takes center stage in Susan Collins reelection fight

Schumer’s ‘E. coli’ burger photo resurfaces after another Dem’s grilling skills get torched: ‘What is that?’

Rubio steps into Munich spotlight as Trump leans on him to carry Vance’s populist message abroad

Trump ousts judge-installed prosecutor; constitutional expert says Article II leaves no doubt

Texas Dem Senate primary fractures over race rhetoric as ‘mediocre’ jab, ‘oppressor’ remarks ignite backlash

Irish dancing groups in the hot seat after trans dancer qualifies for multiple female world championships

Anti-ICE chaos erupts at blue state county board meeting after panel endorses detention center

Mexican Restaurant Owner Under Fire for Offering ICE Agents Free Meals Fires Back at Leftists: ‘They Need to Look for Jesus’

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.”