Vanessa Bryant is currently engaged to a trial regarding photos of her late husband Kobe Bryant and their daughter Gianna Bryant who were killed in a helicopter accident in 2020. Vanessa is suing Los Angeles County, claiming negligence and invasion to privacy for the publication of photos of the crash site taken first responders. As the emotionally-charged case has pushed on, her husband’s former NBA colleagues have seemingly remained silent on the situation, likely out of respect. But now, Shaquille O’Neal has shared some thoughts on the case involving his teammate’s widow.
Shaquille O’Neal is usually a person who has no problem being honest, sometimes in brutal fashion, as evidenced by some of the remarks he’s shared just over the past few months. (Shaq’s comments on Kanye West and Pete Davidson’s beefthey still ring in mine ear. When asked about Vanessa Bryant’s ongoing legal battle, O’Neal had nothing but compassion, though. The hall of famer acknowledged to ET that while he’s not incredibly close to Bryant, he supports her efforts in the courtroom:
I feel sorry for her. We’ve never talked a lot [but] we’ve always had respect for each other. Every time I see her, it’s a hug, it’s a laugh. But I couldn’t imagine what she’s going through. It’s a world in which people don’t care, especially when it comes to the internet. These are photos that I would never want to see. She is holding people responsible.
Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant were Los Angeles Lakers teammates for eight years, bringing the storied NBA franchise three championships during their run. While both had camaraderie both on and off the court, growing tensions began to rise between the two over their roles on the team and Shaq’s reported salary demands. With that, in 2004, O’Neal was traded to the Miami Heat, where he won a fourth championship title. However, in 2018, he made amends with Bryant, who’d managed to win two additional titles of his own before retiring. With this, it’s understandable that O’Neal would be in Vanessa Bryant’s corner at this time.
Since Kobe Bryant’s deathShaq has paid tribute to his friend and colleague in many ways. After news of the basketball great’s passing broke, Diesel paid tribute emotionally during an installment of TNT’s Inside the NBA. Shaq also celebrated the one-year anniversary of Bryant’s death by checking in on the deceased star’s parents.
Recently, however, the fifteen-time NBA All-Star can only observe, as the legal proceedings against Vanessa Bryant (and L.A. County) continue. Judge and jurors have heard many testimonies over the last week from various people, including law enforcement officials who were at the scene of that helicopter crash. One witness took the stand. Sheriff’s Deputy Doug Johnson, who testified that he did nothing wrongHe took 25 photographs, which he said he later deleted. Also, a former fire captain testifiedHe said that he was inspired by what he saw on that particular day. “haunt” him forever.
“Emotional distress” is at the heart of Vanessa Bryant’s case, and she’s aiming to receive millions of dollars in restitution. It’s, of course, unclear as to how the judge might rule at this point. But it’s likely that as the trial continues, Bryant will still have the support of Shaquille O’Neal and others.