Vanessa Bryant (Getty)
*Vanessa Bryant‘s spending habits are catching heat from controversial social media personality Dr. Umar Johnson. According to HotNewHipHop.com, Johnson accused Bryant of “not doing sh-t” to “uplift the Black community” during a recent appearance on “The Joe Budden Podcast. However, it’s Black folks who are defending
Umar referenced how Vanessa Bryant spent the money of her late husband Kobe Bryant while noting a “sports initiative” Vanessa recently started with six predominately white colleges to support his claim.
The “initiative” Johnson referenced was the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation. The colleges in question are the University of Connecticut (UConn), the University of Southern California (USC), the University of Kentucky (UK), the University of Oregon (UO), Duke University, and Louisiana State University (LSU).
In September, the foundation revealed partnerships with the schools. UConn was especially noted, given the college was the frontrunner in recruiting Kobe and Vanessa’s daughter, Gigi Bryant, before her death last year.
Despite Johnson’s criticism, his views were largely rejected, HotNewHipHop mentioned. The site pointed to one person who argued that “there are plenty of angry Black wives who got a Black man’s money and didn’t do sh-t for the Black community.”
Dr. Umar accuses Vanessa Bryant of not using Kobe Bryant’s money to do good in the black community.
(🎥 @JoeBuddenPod ) pic.twitter.com/Rqfz8rpigQ
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) December 26, 2023
Meanwhile, Vanessa Bryant is focused on other things, most notably a statue honoring Kobe. Earlier this year, Vanessa announced via video that her late husband and Los Angeles Lakers icon will receive a statue at Crypto.com Arena.
“On behalf of the Lakers, my daughters, and me, I am so honored that, right here in the center of Los Angeles, in front of the place known as ‘The House that Kobe Built,’ we are going to unveil his statue so that his legacy can be celebrated forever,” she said in the video announcement.
“Kobe Bryant was one of the most extraordinary athletes of all time and one of the most iconic individuals in the history of Los Angeles,” said Lakers team owner Jeanie Buss. “There is no better place for Kobe to be honored with a statue than here, at the center of our city, where everyone can celebrate him and be inspired by his incredible achievements.”
The Kobe statue is a long time coming, HNHH noted, adding the venture had been in development for some time with Kobe himself having a hand in the initial design process. The will be the first in a “series of physical tributes to the basketball legend, who, along with Gigi, died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California in 2020. With the statue, Kobe will be the seventh Laker to be honored in such a way, joining an all-star group of statues featuring the likenesses of Elgin Baylor, Shaq, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Jerry West and Chick Hearn.
Dr. Umar Johnson – screenshot
So, what say you? Does Johnson have a point about Vanessa Bryant or is he off base with his views on her? Weigh in below.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB: Dr. Umar Johnson Slams ‘Bunny Hopping’ and Rejects Eminem as Hip-Hop’s GOAT | Video
The post Dr. Umar Catches Backlash After Saying Kobe’s Widow Vanessa Bryant ‘Not Doing Sh-t’ to ‘Uplift Black Community’ | WATCH appeared first on EURweb.
