Vanessa Bryant will donate $16 million proceeds from lawsuit over helicopter crash photos
Jessica Schladebeck
Vanessa Bryant has pledged to donate the proceeds from the multi-million dollar judgment she won earlier this week in a lawsuit against Los Angeles County over the photographs snapped by first responders at the site of the 2020 helicopter crash that killed her husband, Kobe Bryant, and their teen daughter Gianna.
Bryant said she was giving the $16 million award to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation “to shine a light on Kobe and Gigi’s legacy,” the Los Angeles Times reported on Thursday. The charity — named as a nod to Kobe Bryant’s nickname, the Black Mamba — was launched in 2016 to support underserved athletes and provide funding for their local sports programs.
Kobe Bryant and wife Vanessa at the official after party for the 2004 World Music Awards, September 15, 2005 at Body English in the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Kobe Bryant and wife Vanessa at the official after party for the 2004 World Music Awards, September 15, 2005 at Body English in the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Frank Micelotta/)
“Kobe and Gigi’s vision was to create a world where young boys and girls had equal opportunity to pursue their dreams through sports and life,” according to the nonprofit’s website. “The foundation honors their legacy by funding programs that support their vision.”
The Lakers great, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others died in January 2020, after their helicopter slammed into a hillside in Calabasas, Calif. Months later, his grieving widow and Christopher Chester — a financial adviser who lost his wife, Sarah, and teen daughter, Payton, in the tragedy — sued Los Angeles County, claiming first responders violated their privacy when they snapped photos of the mangled chopper and the victims’ bodies after the crash.
Kobe Bryant, 17, jokes with the media as he holds his Los Angeles Lakers jersey during a news conference in Inglewood, Calif. on July 12, 1996.
Kobe Bryant dunks the ball at his Lower Merion, Pa. high school gym during a practice Friday, Jan. 19, 1996.
Los Angeles Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal (right) and guard Kobe Bryant confer during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California on Dec 8, 1996: The Lakers won the game, 110-86.
Kobe Bryant looks to pass the ball during the McDonald''s All-American at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Mar 31, 1996.
Los Angeles Lakers rookie Kobe Bryant is heckled by teammates as a television cameraman adjusts a microphone on his jersey for an interviewed during the Lakers? Media Day at the Forum in Inglewood, California on Monday, Oct. 14, 1996.
Kobe Bryant, of the Los Angeles Lakers, holding the trophy for winning the NBA Slam Dunk contest at Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio on Feb. 8, 1997.
19 Dec 1997: Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up for a basket during the Lakers 118-93 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California.
The 2-ball team with Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant (C) and Lisa Leslie (R) sit on the bench with their coach Magic Johnson (L), the three-time Lakers' Most Valuable Player, while attending the inaugural Nestle Crunch All-Star 2-ball competition, which was held as part of the 1998 All-Star Weekend in New York on Feb. 7, 1998. The Los Angeles team finished fifth in the eight team competition.
Scottie Pippen (L) and Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls try to stop Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers (C) as he leads a fast break during a Feb. 1, 1998, game in Los Angeles, Calif. Bryant and three other Lakers scored 20 or more points, leading their team to a 112-87 win.
Guard Kobe Bryant #8 of the Los Angeles Lakers makes a slam dunk during the game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, Calif. on Feb. 16, 1999. The Lakers defeated the Hornets 116-88.
Kobe Bryant is pictured at the 1999 Euro ABC Camp in Berlin, Germany on July 7, 1999.
Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant shoots over New York Knicks' Patrick Ewing during the first half of their game Sunday, March 28, 1999, in Inglewood, Calif. The Lakers won the game 99-91.
Los Angeles Lakers' Tyronn Lue, left, Kobe Bryant, center, and Brian Shaw are all smiles as they watch their teammates play the Washington Wizards in the second quarter Friday, March 23, 2001, in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant points at teammate Robert Horry, not shown, during their 98-82 loss to the New Orleans Hornets, Friday, Dec. 13, 2002, in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant, left, and Shaquille O'Neal celebrate after winning Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals against the San Antonio Spurs, in Los Angeles on May 4, 2002.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant goes up for a basket against the New York Knicks during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game at the Staples center in Los Angeles on Dec. 9, 2003.
Los Angeles Lakers Shaquille O'Neal, left, and Kobe Bryant share a laugh on the bench while their teammate take on the Denver Nuggets during the fourth quarter Tuesday, April 15, 2003, at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Bryant scored a game-high 32 points and O'Neal finished with 19 to help defeat the Nuggets, 126-104.
Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant, left, shakes hands with general manger Mitch Kupchak after signing his contract during a news conference Thursday, July 15, 2004, at the team's training facility in El Segundo, Calif. Bryant chose the Lakers over the Clippers, remaining with the team he joined in 1996 at age 18 and later helped win three NBA championships.
Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant (8) drives around the defense of Houston Rockets' Stromile Swift, left, during the fourth quarter of NBA basketball action, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2005, in Los Angeles. The Rockets won 76-74.
Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant directs his team during the first half against the Detroit Pistons in Los Angeles on Friday, Feb. 25, 2005.
Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant smiles at 19-month-old Anne Raegan during a visit to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., Sunday April 3, 2005. The Lakers were in Memphis to play against the Memphis Grizzlies. Bryant is out with a leg injury.
Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant smiles as he talks about his 81-point game Sunday against the Toronto Raptors at Lakers headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2006.
Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant, right, reacts with teammate Kwame Brown during the second half of basketball action at New York's Madison Square Garden in 2006. Bryant scored 40 points as the Lakers won the game 130-97.
Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant speaks during a news conference Monday, May 8, 2006, in El Segundo, Calif. The Lakers lost a playoff series after holding a 3-1 lead for the first time, and the Suns became just the eighth NBA team to rally from such a deficit.
Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant (8) looks to get by Dallas Mavericks defender Devin Harris, background, during NBA basketball action in Dallas, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006. Bryant had 24-points in the 102-87 loss to the Mavericks.
Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers holds up his MVP trophy after the NBA All-Star game against the Eastern players in Las Vegas on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2007.
Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant reacts after the Lakers failed to get a shot off in the final seconds of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies in Los Angeles, on March 28, 2008.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant reacts after making a three-point basket during the second half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Wednesday, April 23, 2008, in Los Angeles.
Western All-Star Shaquille O'Neal (32) of the Phoenix Suns and Western All-Star Kobe Bryant (24) of the Los Angeles Lakers share the MVP award from the NBA All-Star basketball game Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009, in Phoenix.
Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant holding the Larry O'Brien championship trophy and finals MVP trophy after the Lakers beat the Orlando Magic 99-86 in Game 5 of the NBA basketball finals, in Orlando, Fla. on June 14, 2009.
President Barack Obama stands with Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Jan. 25, 2010, during a ceremony honoring the 2009 NBA basketball champions Los Angeles Lakers.
Kobe Bryant holds up the MVP trophy after the NBA basketball All-Star Game in Los Angeles, Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011. The West won 148-143.
Lebron James, left, and Kobe Bryant pose with their gold medals at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London on Aug. 12, 2012.
Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant, right, fist-bumps his daughter Gianna after the last NBA basketball game of his career, against the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, April 13, 2016, in Los Angeles.Bryant scored 60 points as the Lakers won 101-96.
Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant smiles during the first half of Bryant's last NBA basketball game, against the Utah Jazz in Los Angeles on April 13, 2016.
Kobe Bryant, of the Los Angeles Lakers, watches tribute at AT&T; Center on Feb. 6, 2016 in San Antonio, Texas.
Former Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant poses with his family during an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors in Los Angeles, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017. The Lakers retired Bryant's No. 8 and No. 24 jersey during a halftime ceremony.
Shaquille O'Neal, left, and Kobe Bryant laugh as they attend the unveiling of a statue of O'Neal in front of Staples Center, Friday, March 24, 2017, in Los Angeles.
Former Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant watches a tribute video with his family during an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors in Los Angeles, Monday, Dec. 18, 2017. The Lakers retired Bryant's No. 8 and No. 24 jersey during a halftime ceremony.
Former Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna watch during the U.S. national championships swimming meet Thursday, July 26, 2018, in Irvine, Calif.
Kobe Bryant, winner of the award for best animated short for "Dear Basketball", poses in the press room at the Oscars on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Kobe Bryant attends the 2018 Baby2Baby Gala on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018 in Culver City, Calif.
Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna watch the first half of an NCAA college basketball game between Connecticut and Houston, Saturday, March 2, 2019, in Storrs, Conn.
Kobe Bryant, right, and Vanessa Laine Bryant arrive at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Kobe Bryant present the Arthur Ashe award for courage at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
After an 11-day trial in Los Angeles, the jury voted on Wednesday to award the pair of plaintiffs a combined total of $31 million for the emotional distress they faced as a result of the gruesome images.
Bryant was awarded $16 million while Chester got $15 million.
“From the beginning, Vanessa Bryant has sought only accountability, but our legal system does not permit her to force better policies, more training or officer discipline,” her attorney Luis Li said in a statement to the Times.
“Those measures are the responsibility of the sheriff’s and fire departments — responsibilities that Mrs. Bryant’s efforts have exposed as woefully deficient, even giving amnesty to the wrongdoers.”
Li added that Bryant and Chester “brought to light the decades-old practice of taking and sharing photos of accident and crime victims for no legitimate purpose.”
While the images in question have never been made public, both Bryant and Chester testified during the trial that they face constant anxiety over the fact that they could surface at any moment.
