2 chapters across the catalog
The Washington Post suspended reporter Felicia Sonmez after she tweeted a link to a 2016 article regarding Kobe Bryant's 2003 rape case hours after his death. Sonmez received thousands of death threats and was doxxed, leading the Newspaper Guild to protest her suspension on safety grounds. The Post eventually reinstated her, determining that while her tweets were ill-timed, they did not violate social media policies.
During the Oscars where Kobe Bryant won for his animated short "Dear Basketball," TMZ reporters were reportedly instructed to ask attendees about Bryant's past rape allegations. Most celebrities avoided the questions, having been coached to remain positive and celebrate the event. This effort to stir controversy failed to gain traction with the "Me Too" movement at the time, as Bryant was viewed as a valuable corporate asset for entities like Nike.
