Kobe Bryant Fans Slam MTV VMAs for ‘In Memoriam’ Snub

Kobe Bryant (Credit: Shutterstock)

On Sunday night, MTV held its annual Video Music Awards celebrating talent in the music industry. The event was hosted by actress and singer Keke Palmer, who dedicated the show to late Black Panther actor Chadwick Boseman.

As is customary at awards shows, later in the evening there was an In Memoriam segment honoring entertainers who died over the past year. The tribute was introduced by Travis Barker and celebrated the life and achievements of Boseman and Glee actress Naya Rivera, who died in July.

However, fans noticed that NBA legend Kobe Bryant was missing from the VMAs tribute. Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash in January, along with his daughter Gianna and seven other people.

Related Story: Street Outside Staples Center to Be Renamed Kobe Bryant Boulevard

Fans were upset MTV failed to honor the Los Angeles Lakers champion, and called the network out on Twitter.

“Who at the #VMAs forgot to include Kobe Bryant in the In Memoriam section?!? You added Naya and Chadwick, you weren’t sticking to just music,” one user wrote on Twitter.

Another person was angry enough about the snub to call for a boycott of the event. “How DARE you guys Not pay tribute to KOBE BRYANT!!!! He is an Academy Award winner and Legend!!! And you choose to leave him out of your 2020 tribute! #BoycottVMAs,” the user posted

One user commented about their own confusion writing, wait did the #VMAs do a tribute to everyone who passed but didn’t put Kobe Bryant in there? or am i tripping?” 

“K why @MTV not put @kobebryant in there tribute may everyone Rest In Peace but where’s my mans kobe,” another social media user inquired. 

One fan tweeted, “UHHHH #VMAs WHERE TF WAS KOBE BRYANT?!!!!!!” 

So far, MTV has not publicly responded about their reasoning for leaving the NBA legend out. Many fans noted that the VMAs tribute didn’t only include musicians and those in the music industry, so Bryant should have been included as well.

Bryant’s death has spurred many tributes and public gatherings since his passing, and most recently it was announced that an effort is underway to rename a street outside the Staples Center in Los Angeles as Kobe Bryant Boulevard.