A beloved tribute to Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna has been defaced in downtown Los Angeles, drawing widespread anger from fans, artists, and the basketball community.
The mural, which depicted the late Lakers icon in uniform tenderly kissing his daughter on the cheek, was vandalized with white paint and bold graffiti tags. The defacement appears to stem from a brewing feud among street artists, with messages left at the scene aimed at one another rather than the Bryant legacy.
The original artist’s signature, “Sloe Motions,” was crudely scribbled over, replaced by a threatening message: “Keep running your mouth, py.” That tag was also crossed out and replaced with another challenge: “Leave a name, py! Don’t B scared.”
Los Angeles is home to hundreds of murals honoring Kobe and Gigi Bryant, following their tragic passing in a 2020 helicopter crash. While graffiti is common in the city, unwritten rules in the street art scene typically deem tributes to the Bryants as sacred and off-limits.
As of now, the individual or group responsible for the vandalism has not been identified. However, their actions have sparked public backlash and calls for accountability. In response, a fundraiser has been launched to restore the mural and preserve the memory of Kobe and Gigi.
