First reported by TMZ on June 27th, 2023, Vanessa Bryant, the wife of late great basketball star Kobe Bryant, came out victorious in a lawsuit against sports drink company BodyArmor.
According to TMZ, in 2013, Kobe had invested $6 million into the company for a 10% stake. Within several years, Coca Cola purchased BodyArmor for $5.6 billion. Kobe’s $6 million investment reportedly turned into a $400 million windfall. BodyArmor co-founder Mike Repole lauded Kobe for solidifying the company’s name.
"If it wasn't for Kobe Bryant's vision and belief, BodyArmor would not have been able to achieve the success we had,"
Repole said after the sale. "I couldn't be more excited to become part of the Coca-Cola family and set our sights on the future."
Prior to Kobe’s tragic passing in 2016, Molly Carter, the president of Kobe Inc., made claims that Kobe had promised her 2% of his share from the sale of BodyArmor, which would be roughly $8 million. Kobe denied Molly’s claims, saying he never said anything of the sort. Kobe’s denial of Molly’s claims led to her filing suit against Bryant. Vanessa Bryant took up her husband’s legal battle and countersued Molly for violating the duty of loyalty and the non-disparagement clause in her employment contract by speaking ill of Kobe and his family.
The alleged ill-spoken statements made by Molly and referenced by Vanessa were referring to Kobe as an "asshole", a "douche nugget", and a "dick wad". She also stated that Molly called her the "f-ing devil", "bitch" and psycho", as well as mocking Vanessa's newborn as having "botox lips."
According to TMZ, Vanessa said while Molly was working for the company, she was permitted to travel to an NBA All-Star game and on the jet she groused, there were "a lot of fancy-ass Black people" on the plane.
In court Vanessa triumphed and was able to bring another victory to “The Black Mamba”. Vanessa won the lawsuit filed against her husband and also won her counterclaim which awarded her $1.5 million in legal fees.
Comments