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Radio Talk-Show Host Names Kobe Bryant's Accuser
Reuters ^ | July 22, 2003 | Dan Whitcomb

Posted on 07/22/2003 7:26:27 PM PDT by Recourse

Radio Talk-Show Host Names Kobe Bryant's Accuser Tue July 22, 2003 09:53 PM ET

By Dan Whitcomb

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The 19-year-old woman who accused Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant of rape was named on Tuesday by a nationally syndicated talk-show host and on the Internet, pushing her into the spotlight despite pleas for privacy from her family.

Rape counselors and mental health experts were outraged by the exposure of the young Colorado woman, saying that a victim of sexual assault would be further traumatized by public scrutiny.

"That's like being raped again," if her accusations against Bryant are true, said Dr. Patricia Saunders, director of Graham Windham Manhattan Medical Center in New York City. "It's an intrusion. It's an utter violation of her right to privacy. It's a sadistic thing to do."

News organizations, which typically have policies against naming sexual assault victims, have not identified the woman. But her name, address, telephone number and possibly her picture have surfaced on the Internet.

Meanwhile Tom Leykis, host of a radio talk-show based in Los Angeles and aimed mostly at young men, began using her name on the air and told Reuters that he has no plans to stop.

"We're told that rape is violence, not sex, and if that's true there's no reason she should feel shame or embarrassment," Leykis said, adding that he felt it unfair to name Bryant but not his accuser.

The talk-show host, who is heard on 60 stations across the country, also said he did not believe the woman's claims. He said he believes the woman was seeking attention and money and that Bryant could be the "real victim" in the case.

Saunders said Leykis' reasoning about rape and disclosure was a "distortion" because rape victims were often stigmatized by society.

'OUTRIGHT SADISM'

"Rape is a person using domination in sex to express aggression, if not outright sadism," she said. "Rape uses sex to debase a woman and to assert male dominance. (Leykis) has no right to take it upon himself to make that kind of decision. This guy violated what I think is an ethical law."

Few details have been made public about the woman's accusations against Bryant, who is charged with class 3 sexual assault, the equivalent of rape under Colorado law.

The 24-year-old superstar has denied attacking the woman, a concierge at the four-star Colorado resort where authorities say the attack took place. Eagle County authorities have refused to discuss evidence in the case and convinced a judge to seal the court file, which details the woman's allegations and the version of events that Bryant gave to police.

A spokeswoman and victim's advocate for the Eagle County District Attorney's Office said victims of sexual attacks are told the road ahead of them will be difficult and are offered counseling.

"But you don't know until you go through it," Krista Flannigan said.

Bryant's lawyers could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, the Denver Post, citing interviews with a friend of the woman, said she had suffered physical injuries that were still visible three weeks later.

"She's been hurt, there's no question about that," Luke Bray told the Post. The paper said he would not describe the injuries.

The Post also said that the woman's mother had asked her friends to stop talking with the news media.

Bryant is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 6 to hear the charges against him. The state's crime lab still processing evidence, according to Pete Mang, deputy director of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

(Additional reporting by Judith Crosson in Denver)


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; US: California; US: Colorado
KEYWORDS: bryant; kobe; rape; taboo; talkradio; tomleykis
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Another step toward a taboo-free society. Sigh.
1 posted on 07/22/2003 7:26:27 PM PDT by Recourse
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To: cinFLA; Uncle Hal
Nausea Alert Bump
2 posted on 07/22/2003 7:29:31 PM PDT by bd476 (Taglinus FreeRepublicus (10th Edition): Thanks Dixie Chix for calling me a Freeper! Freeper at last!)
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To: bd476
So what's her name?
3 posted on 07/22/2003 7:30:36 PM PDT by Im Your Huckleberry
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To: Recourse
It would be nice if the accuser and the accused were both given the same consideration. It would be better if this parity was acheived by protecting the privacy of the accused, rather than stripping the privacy of the accuser.
4 posted on 07/22/2003 7:30:36 PM PDT by William McKinley (Go Postal!)
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To: Recourse
The news just keeps getting better and better. /sarcasm off
5 posted on 07/22/2003 7:31:14 PM PDT by bd476 (Taglinus FreeRepublicus (10th Edition): Thanks Dixie Chix for calling me a Freeper! Freeper at last!)
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To: Recourse
Tom Leykis is an over the hill hack, catering to people less than half his age. One of his gimmicks is "Flash Friday", where girls in cars are encouraged to flash his listeners driving by. While I'm not sure of Kobe's guilt, I am sure that Leykis is a moron.
6 posted on 07/22/2003 7:31:19 PM PDT by socal_parrot (Tip your server...)
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To: Recourse
Well, as repulsive as this is, at least there will be one less 'speculation' segment for all of the talking heads.
7 posted on 07/22/2003 7:33:10 PM PDT by ysoitanly
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To: Recourse
If the accuser is an adult, she should be identified. This BS about protecting the victim when they are the accuser is just that.

Protecting minors is a different matter.

8 posted on 07/22/2003 7:34:03 PM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: Recourse
Leykis is a notorious liberal, defending NOW and Planned Parenthood, and the like.

The woman's name will be public by August 1.

9 posted on 07/22/2003 7:34:23 PM PDT by sinkspur
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To: Recourse
Leykis is a liberal and a media darling over at DU. No surprises here...
10 posted on 07/22/2003 7:44:15 PM PDT by mhking
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To: Dog Gone
If the accuser is an adult, she should be identified.

I disagree, but I also believe that one who's accused of "date rape" should remain anonymous also (it's all academic with the existence of the Internet, anyway).

Think about it - how much damage would be done to your professional/personal life - a false claim of rape or a false claim of murder?

We all know you'd never kill anyone, Dog Gone - but date rape?...

See where I'm going? A false claim of "date rape" still brands an innocent guy.

11 posted on 07/22/2003 7:46:12 PM PDT by Senator Pardek
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To: mhking
bump with no comment
12 posted on 07/22/2003 7:46:33 PM PDT by Ciexyz
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To: Recourse
The libs will want the talk show host hosted up a flagpole in the center square, but with Clinton, it was his private life, and it didn't matter that what he was doing probably resulted in a national security crisis.......
13 posted on 07/22/2003 7:46:54 PM PDT by b4its2late (I am a partisan. Part right and the other part right.)
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To: Senator Pardek
I don't want to identify rape victims, but when they press charges they give up any right to anonymity.

It's totally nuts that you can press charges anonymously. Unconstitutional, too, if anyone cares.

14 posted on 07/22/2003 7:50:10 PM PDT by Dog Gone
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To: Recourse
Well, well. I have even less respect for the media than I did before.

Here's hoping that "R" bryant spends time in prison. Hopefully, his job will entail cleaning the toilets there.

15 posted on 07/22/2003 7:50:23 PM PDT by neutrino (Oderint dum metuant: Let them hate us, so long as they fear us.)
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To: William McKinley
It would be nice if the accuser and the accused were both given the same consideration. It would be better if this parity was achieved by protecting the privacy of the accused, rather than stripping the privacy of the accuser.

Couldn't say it better myself... If Kobe is innocent he still will take a huge financial hit via endorsements.

16 posted on 07/22/2003 7:50:57 PM PDT by StatesEnemy
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To: Dog Gone
Er - I "misspoke".

The press has a general (not in NYC see "Central Park Jogger") rule not to do it - the same rule should apply to "alleged attackers".

17 posted on 07/22/2003 7:59:31 PM PDT by Senator Pardek
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To: Recourse
Tom Leykis is a major league a hole. This will come back to haunt him.
18 posted on 07/22/2003 8:01:33 PM PDT by Maynerd
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To: Senator Pardek
Is that an actual charge, "date rape?"

And, no, I'm not kidding. I really don't know.
19 posted on 07/22/2003 8:01:45 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: Recourse
Maybe we are at a point where the accuser sould hold a press conference and tell the world exactly what happened and say she will testify to it in court.

She is already being convicted of falsely accusing the Mr Bryant.

Kobe can't possibly be guilty of anything except infidelity. Wait and see if any other women come out of the woodwork.

20 posted on 07/22/2003 8:02:13 PM PDT by Newbomb Turk
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