It Hurt, But Gayle King's Question to Lisa Leslie Should End Kobe Rape Talk

Gayle King is in the news today and rightfully so. Americans are outraged that she was the latest to drudge up the late Kobe Bryant's rape case from the early 2000's undoubtedly an unflattering part of his legacy. King asked Lisa Leslie about the trial and whether or not it ever complicated their relationship or Kobe's legacy. There were three questions that CBS This Morning shared but as I watched more of the clip, I understood what was happening from a different angle. 

As a person who regularly asks questions, I know that many of the "softball" answers are already floating around so I try to dig deeper into the story being presented. If I'm interviewing a person on a press tour, I try to avoid asking the same question. This not only makes the interview unique, it adds depth to the experience for myself and the person I'm interviewing. This depth isn't always easily achieved however. Depth is predicated upon location, time constraints candor and a respectable level of transparency. Occasionally, I get a list of questions and topics that are off limits that I must do my best to avoid at all costs. That recent divorce? NO. "That video"? Don't even think about it. Wardrobe malfunctions can sometimes be ice breakers if you can extract some level of comedy from the moment, otherwise act as if it never happened. TMZ (the outlet that broke the news about the helicopter crash) has become infamous for reporting "news" you don't want the public to know, including in the moment death announcements. Though infamous for it, TMZ and its brand of reporting has earned a respected place in journalism that seldom others can co-opt-no matter how hard they try.

Because many of the artists I've interviewed often have their manager on the phone (who patches them into the call with radio hosts, etc) the threat of calls being interrupted or ended at their discretion looms heavily. In person interviews are no different. The manager or publicist could step in and end the interview when off limit topics are broached in the interview. Talent is quite often coached up to handle the "gotcha" topics being inserted into the interview and can handle them but publicists lay out clear cut guidelines for the interview before hand. 

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Lisa Leslie's unabated defense of Kobe Bryant was of Olympic proportion. Her defense of her late friend was as adroitly as she defended the rim during her days on the court. For her part in this, Gayle King has become the latest victim of the cancel culture running rampant, today. Social media is conflagrant and a simple post or share has become the firebrand that starts a consuming fire that takes days, weeks, months and even years to extinguish. Perhaps it was Snoop Dogg or Lil' Boosie's reaction that fueled the fire, maybe it was yours or your social friends. Perhaps the online commentary lines up with the thoughts in your head...while I don't condone any of the name calling, I do respect the human emotion behind it.

As  journalists, we have a power few others have. We can get people to open up and share what they may have never been comfortable sharing with anyone else. and, Our reporting as a healing salve can help bring closure to painful situations that affecting people everywhere.We have the privilege of being the first to know and the last to leave scenes and situations that become the news we report. Our stories can bring joy, inspire hope, shed light, lift spirits and sometimes even cause pain. Along with this unparalleled power comes the responsibility of being objective. Over the years, objectivity has given way to bias. Bias is blinding and even when profitable, fails the audience we wish to serve. Many of these stories will tell themselves, if we allow them. Along with this power and responsibility comes the dichotomy of being the "bad guy" that starts or in this case ends a conversation.

Gayle King finally got around to asking whether or not it was fair to even ask about it considering the fact that Kobe is now dead. If anything good came from that exchange, Lisa Leslie's response is the ultimate good. While the internet has been filled with emotional responses to the interview, I must say that the timing of the line of questioning is poor. The bodies of Kobe and Gianna were released to the family on this week and no plans for a memorial had been publicized when this interview went to press. Emotions are still very raw and to invoke any ill will or to speak evil of any of the nine who lost their lives in that helicopter crash goes against any journalistic integrity.

Watch More of the Gayle King and Lisa Leslie Interview
​(the segment in question begins at the 3:10 mark)

Not off-limits, but off the record

Occasionally, I can get someone to open up about a hard topic off the record when the situation is more relaxed and the need for pleasantries has subsided. That information is useless, no matter how profound it is. The artist will always know that it was me that broke their confidence. I have conducted interviews under embargo for months, waiting on the release of a film, movie, or album. It's standard in this industry. However, we can never forget that our quest is for information. Sometimes the information we seek makes us, our audience and even the person asked uncomfortable. We have to be alright with that-that's the job! I don't mind Gayle King asking the question because she wasn't the first to bring it up. When it was initially brought up, that journalist was suspended-and rightfully so! 

So what creates the quandary about Gayle King bringing up the rape case? It's not uncommon for a journalist to become the "bad guy" in hopes of a desired outcome. What good comes from this interview? Hopefully, finality. I believe that by asking one of Kobe Bryant's closest friends and hearing them speak finitely about it and with finality, we have an end to the conversation surrounding the rape accusation. Lisa Leslie's response was heard around the world, finitely! How anyone could even attempt to dredge it up after this interview shows a lack of decency, character and a disdain for truth. 

"Do you think it's even a fair question to ask considering he's no longer with us? -Gayle King

I think that the media should be more respectful at this time. It's like, if you had questions about it, you've had many years to ask him that. I don't think it's something that we should keep hanging over his legacy. It went to trial...and I think that we should leave it at that. -Lisa Leslie