Dr. Umar Johnson has caught a nerve with social media customers following his look on “The Joe Budden Podcast.” The episode, which premiered on Christmas Day, noticed the pan-Africanist supercharged as he accused Vanessa Bryant of flagrantly utilizing her late husband, Kobe Bryant’s, fortune to additional the development of white communities.
The staunch critic of interracial relationships accused Vanessa of being like different white girls who marry Black males however do little to nothing to uplift the Black group. The mom of 4 is Mexican-American and was with the Los Angeles Lakers franchise participant for 21 years and married for 19.
As broadly reported, Kobe, alongside along with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and 7 others perished in a January 26, 20202 helicopter crash. He was survived by his spouse and three remaining daughters, Natalia, Bianca, and Capri.
In his argument towards the widow, Johnson acknowledged, “Vanessa inherited his wealth and guess what? Is Vanessa Bryant utilizing any of that Black man’s cash to do any good within the Black group? Absof—kinlutely not.”
On the time of his loss of life, the NBA corridor of famer had an estimated wealth of $600 million. In February, she was awarded a $28.85 million settlement in a lawsuit filed towards Los Angeles County over images taken on the scene of the helicopter crash.
I lived throughout the road from a group middle in North Philadelphia (predominantly black) the place Vanessa Bryant had the courts absolutely transformed for the children within the space. Folks simply be speaking to speak. https://t.co/acUBPc1mc2 pic.twitter.com/gqyt3kiZOp
— Chris Giddens (@CanPrinceLive) December 27, 2023
Vanessa reportedly donated her $16 million portion of the settlement funds to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports activities Basis. The group, which was renamed from Mamba Sports activities Basis after Kobe and Gianna’s deaths, hosts basketball expertise academies for underserved youth and gives sports activities funding to colleges and varied leagues.
Johnson continued on along with his rant. “Vanessa Bryant simply began an initiative with three predominantly white faculties, some type of sports activities initiative, with Kobe’s cash and Kobe’s title. Didn’t select a single HBCU with a Black man’s cash,” he acknowledged.
The College of Kentucky, College of Connecticut, College of Southern California, College of Oregon, Duke College, and Louisiana State College basketball applications had been named as members within the inaugural Mamba Program within the fall of 2023.
The partnership between the inspiration, Nike, and universities offered the groups with customized uniforms that includes the Mamba brand, Kobe sneakers, and different attire for the 2023–2024 season. The arrangment is a enterprise deal meant to extend the model consciousness of the Mamba line of footwear, not a charitable contribution like Johnson suggests.
The social media character hit again with, “Anticipating white girls to make use of Black cash to assist Black folks, how is that unfair?” When known as out by podcast co-host Ish for being “unfair” in his judgment of Vanessa.
Johnson’s criticism was met with backlash. “I imply you’ll be able to’t go all over the place preaching other people want to remain outta black enterprise however when Vanessa Bryant does, since she isn’t black, now she’s a part of your instance as a result of that’s ‘black cash,’” learn a tweet.
One other particular person posted, “That ain’t Vanessa Bryant job, her job is to maintain THE FAMILY WITH KOBE MONEY. He don’t know what sort of cash discuss that they had earlier than his passing. Dr. Umar simply don’t want to say Kobe AT ALL.”
Johnson has acknowledged the blowback from his visitor look by persevering with to share IG posts selling his upcoming talking gigs.
