What would Jesus say? A Bible-based perspective on the Gayle King-Kobe Bryant controversy
Article By Linda Sanchez // EEW Magazine // Faith Issues
Some people are saying, Gayle King can dish it out, but she can’t take it.
When the journalist, who has a reputation for being fair and balanced, asked Kobe Bryant’s friend, basketball legend Lisa Leslie, to discuss a rape allegation from 2003, days after his tragic death, the backlash came swift and harsh.
The “CBS This Morning” host was called everything but a child of God and according to her best friend Oprah Winfrey, the 65-year-old is not doing well and is in fear for her life after receiving death threats.
Winfrey’s tearful “Today” show revelation about King’s unfortunate plight has gotten some public sympathy, but a large majority of people say they don’t feel sorry for King who decided to dredge up the past of a man who isn’t here to defend himself at a very sensitive time for his family.
Even within the faith community, some are wagging their fingers and chiding King using Matthew 7:12: “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”
They argue that if King would not want someone to highlight one of the lowest points in her life just days after her death when her family’s grief is fresh, she should not have done that to the late, great NBA star—not even in the name of journalism.
It is undeniable that the public has lashed out mercilessly and relentlessly—something King has noticed and responded to. After reading widespread vitriolic comments online, she took to social media to express her displeasure with her network for publishing the clip on Twitter that she says was taken “out of context.”
"If I had only seen the clip that you saw, I would be extremely angry with me too. I am mortified, I am embarrassed and I am very angry,” King said during an Instagram Live video—her first ever. “Unbeknownst to me, my network put up a clip from a very wide-ranging interview, totally taken out of context and when you see it that way, it's very jarring," she explained.
"I wanted to get Lisa's take on it as a friend who knew him well. What she thought, where that would stand," she said. "It was very powerful when she looked me in the eye, as a member of the media, to say it's time for the media to leave that alone and back off. During the course of the interview, I asked follow-up questions because I wanted to make sure her position and perspective were very clear."
It is true that the most salacious portion of the conversation focusing on Bryant’s rape allegation was isolated for social media promotion, and King believes that is what started the firestorm of criticism. Some agree, some don’t.
Winfrey, 66, said King is “feeling very much attacked” and "hasn't slept in two days,” and the harsh verbal attacks against her friend cross the line.
Even if people are upset about King highlighting a case that was dropped on Sept. 1, 2004 after the accuser declined to testify and settled a civil lawsuit out of court on March 2, 2005, does that justify threatening her life? What would Jesus say? Would he encourage the throwing of stones and graceless condemnation of King?
Of course, He wouldn’t.
Jesus would likely respond the way He did to the accusers that demanded the stoning of the woman caught in adultery in John 8:7: "Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Granted, Vanessa Bryant and her children deserve far better than the media circus surrounding a 17-year-old allegation, and perhaps King should have been more sensitive to timing. Even so, the bullying needs to stop—especially if said bullies call themselves followers of Jesus. True disciples are still kind to those they disagree with, and they walk in humility with the understanding that we are all imperfect and need grace.
Furthermore, it is hypocritical to defend Bryant’s legacy against attacks and fail to defend King against attacks too. If you really want to apply The Golden Rule found in Matthew 7:12, then you should extend the same grace and consideration to King that you would want someone to extend to you if you were in her position.
