Kobe Bryant’s 2003 Alleged Rape Victim Gets Recognized by Online Community
(Photo : Reuters)

After getting to work on Jan. 27, Shirley Alvarado del Aguila told her co-workers that she doesn't want to talk about Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant recently passed away from a fatal helicopter crash. His 13-year-old daughter, GiGi, and seven other passengers also lost their lives in the accident.

Bryant's Rape Accusation Controversy in 2003

Aguila was upset that the NBA star was being remembered by the people as a praise-worthy individual regardless of his history of being arrested and accused of rape in 2003. She currently works for a group that assists rape and domestic violence victims.

It angered Aguilar that those people who were bringing up the issue of Bryant's involvement with a rape case were being attacked online. This prompted her to deactivate her social media accounts. 

Aguilar was worried about how the woman whom Bryant allegedly assaulted 17 years ago might feel upon the passing of her alleged rapist.

Bryant denied the rape accusations and claimed that their sexual activity was consensual. However, the basketball star admitted that the woman may have felt differently. 

An article from the LA Times revealed that felony charges were filed by the woman. However, it was later dropped after the woman failed to give her statement. 

After this controversial part of the basketball player's life, his achievements on and off-court were the center of attention by most of the people who know and love him.

How about the Rape and Domestic Violence Victims?

It has been a week since the death of Kobe Bryant. Many in the online community are expressing their reactions through social media to the attention that the basketball star is receiving. These groups of individuals felt how rape and domestic violence cases are being neglected after the death of Bryant. They are defensive of the woman who accused Bryant of rape in 2003. 

Words from a Sexual Abuse Victim

Alvarado del Aguila was a victim of sexual abuse when she was a child. After expressing her sadness the woman who accused Bryant of a rape case, she expressed her concern to the basketball player's family.

Aguila said she feels sorry for the family of Bryant. She acknowledges the intense sadness that his family may be going through after their incredible loss. Despite the accusations given to Bryant, she still believes that his family should be allowed to grieve for his passing. 

Aguilar stressed that the stories of rape and domestic violence survivors should not be disregarded no matter the legacy of their violators. 

Being represented by her lawyer, the woman who accused Kobe Bryant did not leave any comment regarding the tragic death of the basketball legend. The accuser of the NBA star has not made any public comments or reactions about her rape accusations towards Bryant. She had been criticized and threatened many times due to this issue.

In related news, a Swiss bodybuilding trainer was accused of requesting $3 million to kill her. The trainer was charged with solicitation to conduct murder. After multiple charges were dropped against the suspect, he was finally sentenced to only three years imprisonment.