Nike Called out by Kobe Bryant's Widow, Vanessa Bryant, Over "Mambacita" Shoe Leak

By Joshua Summers First Posted: Jun 03, 2021 08:45 PM EDT

Late NBA legend Kobe Bryant's widow, Vanessa Bryant, called out sports shoe company, Nike, over the leak of a shoe design that is not supposed to be up for sale. The said shoe design is called "Mambacita," and is designed by the late NBA legend's wife in honor of her 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Bryant.

Vanessa Bryant's disappointment with the company was posted on her official Instagram account, as she slammed Nike over the "Mambacita" shoe.

Vanessa Bryant's "Mambacita" Shoe Design in Honor of Late Gianna Bryant, Leaked

The "Mambacita" shoe was not supposed to be on sale and was not supposed to be manufactured. Vanessa's post on her social media account also showed a physical shoe harboring her design, as she urged someone who can tell her how they got the shoe.

People reported that the shoes designed for Gianna Bryant are an "exclusive" colorway of the late NBA legend's iconic design. Apart from the colors, the shoes also harbored embossed patterns of snake-like skin on their exterior, while the interior has a black snakeskin pattern. "I picked the colors in honor of her [Gianna Bryant] uniform, the inside pattern, Kobe and Gigi on the back in gold instead of Kobe's signature.

Despite the magnificent shoe design, Vanessa Bryant noted that the "Mambacita" shoe was not approved for sale. Furthermore, the shoe design in honor of Gianna Bryant was also not approved to be made. However, Kobe Bryant's widow emphasized that there is someone who got a hold of the "Mambacita" shoe while Nike did not send her or any of her daughters a pair with her design.

"Although the shoe is a tribute to her late daughter, Gianna Bryant, if the legal contract to produce and distribute the shoe permits the sale of the fashion product, the publicity leak might simply be construed as in poor taste, but not illegal," said Shawn Grain Carte, a professor from the Fashion Institute of Technology, in CBS News. Carte added that fashion leaks create a buzz that makes the brand more influential as they "tease the consumer to demand more sales."

However, Vanessa Bryant underscored in her statement that she "did not re-sign the Nike contract and decided not to sell these shoes," even though the sales of it will benefit their Mambacita Sports Foundation.

"As such, trying to stop such leak is challenging at best and difficult, especially today," said Carte in CBS.

Kobe Bryant's Wife, Vanessa Bryant, Blasts Nike on Mambacita Shoe Leak

Apart from the statement that she posted on her Instagram account, Vanessa Bryant also showed her disappointment on her Instagram story, as the wife of the late NBA legend showed some receipts over the "Mambacita" shoe leak.

Vanessa Bryant posted a screenshot of Bleacher Report Kicks' Twitter post saying that the "Mambacita" shoes will be released "later this year."

Despite the leak, Kobe Bryant's wife, Vanessa Bryant, hoped that the shoe design in honor of her late daughter, Gianna Bryant, was not sold by Nike. The shoe company is not yet issuing an official statement regarding the incident.

WATCH: Vanessa Bryant SLAMS Nike for Unauthorized Shoe Inspired by Late Daughter Gigi - from Entertainment Tonight