Washington Post workers protest after reporter Felicia Sonmez suspended over Kobe Bryant Twitter activity

January 28, 2020

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Felicia Sonmez Kobe Bryant

Washington Post reporter Felicia Sonmez was placed on administrative leave this week after she called attention to Kobe Bryant’s rape case hours after the NBA legend died in a helicopter crash, and Sonmez’s colleagues have come to her defense.

In a statement on Monday addressed to Washington Post editors Marty Baron and Tracy Grant, the Washington Post Guild ripped the publication for suspending Sonmez and not taking the proper steps to ensure her safety. Sonmez is a survivor of sexual assault, and the statement said the Post failed to support her two years ago when she shared her story and was attacked by other outlets. The letter also defended Sonmez’s right to share information on the sexual assault allegation against Bryant.

“We understand the hours after Bryant’s death Sunday were a fraught time to share reporting about past accusations of sexual assault. The loss of such a beloved figure, and of so many other lives, is a tragedy,” the statement read. “But we believe it is our responsibility as a news organization to tell the public the whole truth as we know it — about figures and institutions both popular and unpopular, at moments timely and untimely.”

The letter went on to say that the Post has failed to offer a clear explanation for why Sonmez was placed on leave. Freelance journalist Matthew Keys was told by a person at the Washington Post that Sonmez was not suspended for calling attention to Bryant’s rape case, but rather for publishing the full name of a person who she says emailed her to harass and intimidate her over her Bryant-related Twitter activity.

UPDATE: A person who works at the Washington Post says @feliciasonmez was NOT suspended for linking to the Daily Beast story on Twitter. Her suspension was related to a follow up tweet that contained a screen shot of her work email inbox, which revealed full names of emailers.

— Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) January 27, 2020

Sonmez began by tweeting a link to a story about Bryant’s rape case. When she was immediately ratio’ed for it, she doubled down by lecturing others who responded negatively. That included publishing the full name of someone who emailed her. Sonmez eventually deleted the tweets, likely after receiving pressure from the higher-ups at the Post.

The sexual assault allegations against Kobe are part of his story, but it was completely unfair of Sonmez to make that the sole focus of her coverage hours after Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven other people died in a tragic accident. It’s possible — if not likely — that the Post used Sonmez’s decision to tweet an emailer’s full name as an excuse for a suspension that was coming either way.

More Larry Brown Sports coverage of Kobe Bryant’s death:

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Other victims of the helicopter crash:
– John Altobelli, junior college baseball coach, also died in helicopter crash
– Christina Mauser, girls’ basketball coach, among the helicopter crash victims
– Sarah Chester, daughter Payton were also killed in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash
– Ara Zobayan was the pilot in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash

Tributes to Kobe:
– UConn honors Gianna Bryant with own jersey, spot on the bench
– Dallas Mavericks retire Kobe Bryant’s No. 24 jersey
– Video: Raptors, Spurs start game with amazing tribute to Kobe Bryant
– Shaq posts heartfelt tribute to Kobe Bryant
– Michael Jordan releases statement on death of ‘little brother’ Kobe Bryant
– Video: Doc Rivers breaks down crying talking about Kobe Bryant
– Phil Jackson calls Kobe Bryant ‘a chosen one’ in statement on his death
– NBA commissioner Adam Silver issues statement on death of Kobe Bryant
– Video: Dwyane Wade posts emotional message reacting to Kobe Bryant’s death
– Kendrick Perkins extends olive branch to Kevin Durant after Kobe Bryant’s death
– Video: Emotional Mike Breen sums up NBA world’s emotions about Kobe Bryant’s death
– Trae Young’s huge game was full of Kobe Bryant-related statistical coincidences

More coverage:
– Video: Kobe Bryant helicopter audio released
– Media errors, rumors, poor judgment run rampant in reporting of Kobe Bryant news
– NBA postpones Tuesday’s Lakers-Clippers game after Kobe Bryant’s death
– Kobe Bryant recently filed for ‘Mambacita’ trademark for daughter Gianna
– Kobe Bryant checked in on Shaq’s son Shareef morning of helicopter crash
– No, Rick Fox did not die in helicopter crash that killed Kobe, Gianna Bryant
– Lakers fans start memorial to Kobe Bryant outside Staples Center
– Kobe Bryant’s last tweet was congratulating LeBron James on passing him
– Sports world stunned over Kobe Bryant news
– Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash – dead at 41