AFRICAN MIRROR REPORTER
WIDOW of NBA Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant has lashed out at American rapper Meek Mill for the use of Kobe’s name in his song, calling the rapper’s actions “extremely insensitive and disrespectful”.
Meek Mill released his new single titled ‘Don’t Worry (RIP Kobe)’ where the rapper mentioned the way in which Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash.
In the song, the rapper from Philadelphia said: “Yeah, and if I ever lack, I’m goin’ out with my chopper, it be another Kobe.”
Vanessa Bryant voiced her anger on an Instagram story, writing: “Dear @meekmill, I find this line to be extremely insensitive and disrespectful. Period. I am not familiar with any of your music, but I believe you can do better than this. If you are a fan, fine, there’s a better way to show your admiration for my husband. This lacks respect and tact.”
The song, which also features rapper Lil Baby, went viral after it’s release and many fans also took to social media, slamming the rapper for his disrespectful words on the much loved rapper.
Michael Lee wrote: “I don’t know when I’ll be ready to hear a song that references Kobe, but I know it ain’t now & I know that line Meek Mill just dropped ain’t it. Let that man RIP a little longer & the next man who wants to try, work a little harder to ensure that your bar isn’t so disrespectful.”
Another user, @beebdeaxoru, wrote: “not the grown men in the comments and replies defending meek mill calling vanessa sensitive for her not wanting a line referencing the death of her husband and daughter aka the most tragic moment in her life in a song … genuinely disgusting.”
Meek Mill himself took to Twitter to respond to the backlash, writing that he had apologised to Vanessa Bryant privately, and that the release of his song was not made to be directed to the Bryant Family.
“I apologized to her in private earlier today not to the public…Nothing I say on my page directed to a internet viral moment or the family of a grieving woman! If you care about someone grieving, change the subject!”, he wrote.
Kobe Bryant and the couple’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna “Gigi” Bryant, were killed in a helicopter crash in 2020, along with seven other people, in Calabasas, California.
Gianna and Kobe Bryant courtside at a Lakers Game in 2019. Picture: Instagram
Bryant shared an emotional message on Instagram as a tribute to her late husband and their daughter on the one-year anniversary of their deaths. The Instagram post featured a moving letter written to Bryant from one of Gianna’s best friends, Aubrey Callaghan.
“I will never understand why/how this tragedy could’ve happened to such beautiful, kind and amazing human beings,” Bryant’s caption read, in part. “It still doesn’t seem real. Kob, we did it right. Gigi, you still make mommy proud. I love you!”