Kobe Bryant's wife Vanessa slams rapper Meek Mill for 'insensitive' lyrics, fans demand apology
The content of a certain track titled 'Don’t Worry (RIP Kobe)' by rapper Meek Mill is making its rounds on the Internet for its controversial lyrics. More specifically, with regards to a line from the song that references the death of late Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, and Vanessa Bryant is not having any of it.
'Don't Worry (RIP Kobe)' is reportedly a collaborative track with Lil Baby and Meek Mill. The song hasn't been released yet, but after it leaked online, Meek Mill came under a lot of fire. Kobe Bryant, as well as his daughter Gianna and seven other passengers, tragically died in a helicopter accident in January last year.
Mill’s verse goes: "This b**** I'm f****n' always tell me that she love but she ain't ever showed me. Yeah, and if I ever lack, I’m goin’ out with my chopper, it be another Kobe."
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Support from an ex-NBA champ
While fans are outraged over the line with many seeking to cancel the rapper, ex-NBA champion Kenny Smith is giving Meek Mill a pass. According to TMZ, Kenny said, "I’m a Meek Mill fan. I know that he’s a huge basketball fan, huge Kobe fan. Whatever he says, I’m always going to give Meek a pass."
He added, "I always give Meek the benefit of the doubt,” noting, "He has a track record that speaks pretty long and pretty positive in the past year."
Note from Vanessa Bryant
Kenny may be giving the rapper the benefit of the doubt but a response that holds significantly more weight is that of Kobe's wife Vanessa Bryant.
Vanessa addressed the lyrics on February 23 on her Instagram Stories saying that even if Meek Mill is a fan of her late husband and had no ill intent, the lyrics "lack respect and tact."
"Dear @meekmill," she began her brief and straightforward letter. "I find this line to be extremely insensitive and disrespectful. Period. I am not familiar with any of your music, but I believe you can do better than this. If you are a fan, fine, there's a better way for you to show your admiration for my husband. This lacks respect and tact."
Fan criticize the rapper
Many fans continue to criticize the rapper and are backing Vanessa's response. "She didn’t lie. That line was plain disrespect to Kobe. He needs to apologize," said a fan while another wrote, "Period, Vanessa. I couldn’t believe he said that."
One fan tweeted, "This is so gross. Kobe died with his daughter and left behind children and a wife. There were multiple families shattered when that helicopter crashed. What a terrible thing to say."
"She read him and put him back on the shelf iktr," shared another fan. "Nicki gave him a career and this is what he does..." added another fan.
She didn’t lie. That line was plain disrespect to Kobe. He needs to apologize.
— Paul ✱ BLM (@selenastan18) February 23, 2021
This is so gross. Kobe died with his daughter and left behind children and a wife. There were multiple families shattered when that helicopter crashed. What a terrible thing to say
— Abigail (@Abigail_Hope_) February 23, 2021
she read him and put him back on the shelf iktr pic.twitter.com/d2mXVZLv4y
— s worded 😭 (@moonllghtbabe_y) February 23, 2021
nicki gave him a career and this is what he does...
— jess 🤎 #1 ‘thinking bout you’ stan (@zhaviagrande) February 23, 2021
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