Kobe Bryant was enjoying a great time in his life when sexual assault allegations rocked his world. In December 2003, a Colorado woman said the NBA star forced himself on her the previous June at a Vail ski resort (per CNN). Kobe admitted to an encounter with the 19-year-old woman, but claimed it was consensual.
"I didn't force her to do anything against her will. I'm innocent," he said during a press conference with Vanessa by his side (per ESPN). "I sit here in front of you guys, furious at myself, disgusted at myself for making the mistake of adultery." Vanessa also released a statement. "I know that my husband has made a mistake — the mistake of adultery. He and I will have to deal with that within our marriage, and we will do so," she said. "He is not a criminal. ... I believe in his innocence."
The case went on until September 2004, when the accuser decided she did not want to testify at a criminal trial (per Washington Post). In a statement on the case's dismissal, Kobe apologized to the accuser, saying, "I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did." Kobe also apologized to Vanessa, in the form of a $4 million purple diamond "apology ring" (per People).
