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The tweet by political reporter Felicia Sonmez sparked a furious backlash on social media, with many deeming it inappropriate just hours after Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, were killed in a helicopter crash outside of Los Angeles. In the wake of her posting, Sonmez said she received death and rape threats and her home address was posted online, compelling her to stay at a hotel overnight.
The Washington Post placed Sonmez on paid leave while newsroom managers look into the episode.
Sonmez sparked the uproar by linking to a Daily Beast article from 2016, headlined "Kobe Bryant's Disturbing Rape Case: The DNA Evidence, the Accuser's Story, and the Half-Confession."
The story recounted details of an accusation of sexual assault against Bryant by a 19-year-old woman employed by a Colorado hotel that Bryant visited in 2003. Bryant was charged with sexual assault and false imprisonment, but the charges were dropped after the woman declined to testify. The Los Angeles Lakers star acknowledged having sexual relations with the woman but said the interaction was consensual. He later apologized to the woman, acknowledging that she hadn't given her consent.
In an interview, Sonmez said her intent was to fill in an important piece of information in the early accounts of Bryant's life and career and to counter tweets that had popped up dismissing the allegations against Bryant as insignificant.
"It was jarring to me to see the initial coverage [of Bryant's death] omitting any mention" of the 2003 case, she said. "The early obits and news stories made only passing mention" to it. "The seriousness of those allegations is a valid part of his legacy and his life. Those allegations should not be minimized in any way."
Sonmez, who has been open about her own experience with sexual assault, said survivors of assault and their family members praised her for highlighting the Bryant allegations. Rather than undermining her colleagues, she said, her tweets did the opposite. "It demonstrates to survivors that we see them and hear them, and they are not ignored," she said. "No matter how rich and powerful and beloved [an alleged perpetrator is], we will treat them with the seriousness they deserve."
As the criticism of Sonmez mounted Sunday night, a Post managing editor, Tracy Grant, instructed Sonmez to delete any tweets referring to her original posting. Sonmez complied.
News organizations have repeatedly disciplined employees for social-media postings that run afoul of general newsroom guidelines and violate journalists' obligation of neutrality. But the rules don't cover every circumstance and are sometimes irregularly enforced.
In a letter to Post executive editor Martin Baron and Grant, The Post's newsroom union, the Newspaper Guild, protested Sonmez's suspension.
"We write to share our alarm and dismay that our newsroom leaders have chosen to place Felicia Sonmez on leave over a social media post," the letter said.
It added: "We understand . . . the hours after Bryant's death were a fraught time to share reporting about past accusations of sexual assault. The loss of such a beloved figure, and of so many other lives, is a tragedy. But we believe it is our responsibility as a news organization to tell the public the whole truth as we know it - about figures and institutions both popular and unpopular, at moments timely and untimely."
The letter urged The Post to ensure Sonmez's safety in the face of threats, to make a statement condemning abuse of its reporters and to rescind any disciplinary action against her.
Sonmez said that she had been warned previously by Post management about statements on social media regarding her own sexual assault allegations and that this has left her "deeply frustrated."
Grant on Monday referred to her statement that Sonmez's conduct had "undermined" her colleagues. She declined to comment further.
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Previously:
• 12/23/19: Christianity Today made big news with its anti-Trump editorial. The impact on evangelicals might not be as big
• 11/25/19: Bloomberg News will avoid investigating Mike Bloomberg during his presidential campaign
• 10/29/19: Judge reinstates libel lawsuit filed by Covington Catholic teen against Washington Post
• 09/02/19: Some secrets do keep: A year later, the Trump official who penned an explosive op-ed is still unknown
• 08/16/19: Journos behaving badly? CNN sees itself as subject to threats after incidents
• 01/21/19: BuzzFeed's stumble is highest-profile misstep at a time when press is under greatest scrutiny
• 12/20/18: Tucker Carlson is in BIG trouble, right? Not quite
• 08/29/18: A legend of Watergate fame faces new questions about a blockbuster Trump story
• 07/12/18: Once partners, 'Game Change' co-authors are at odds over their shattered franchise
• 06/01/18: MSNBC host Joy Reid faces new questions about her old blog
• 05/01/18: Cut the comedy? The White House Correspondents' Association is considering it
• 04/30/18: Prez's absence at White House correspondents' dinner turns it from schmooze-fest to snooze-fest
• 03/07/18: A chatty former Trump aide with a wild but wavering story raised some questions about live interviews
• 02/16/18: Reporting on tragedy: To explain or exploit?
• 01/04/18: The provocative, plugged-in author of new Trump book has previously been accused of playing fast and loose with facts
• 12/05/17: Blunderer Brian (Ross') staggering screw-ups
• 11/27/17: New news? Not on 'Morning Joe.' Hosts pass off a taped show as the live version
• 01/06/17: Why losing Megyn Kelly probably won't even dent Fox News' armor
• 05/09/16: Obama official 'fesses up: 'Narrative' created by administration sold Iran nuclear deal to clueless press
• 03/16/16: Despite the beatdown, reporters love the Trump beat
• 03/10/16: What really gets under Trump's skin?
• 03/04/16: Megyn Kelly leaves Trump sputtering to defend himself at debate
• 02/29/16: Think Trump's wrong? Fact checkers can tell you how often (hint: a lot)