Vanessa Bryant Refutes Gold Digger Criticisms, Says Championship Comment Was 'Misconstrued'
Vanessa Bryant has responded to criticisms about her marriage to Kobe, following a rare interview that the mother of two did with New York magazine.
The 29-year-old NBA wife boasted about her privileged lifestyle and said "I certainly would not want to be married to somebody that can't win championships." Her comments were blasted as being shallow and critics flocked to social networking sites where she was slammed as being a "gold digger" although Bryant insists that her words were taken out of context.
"I'm sad to hear that comments in my New York Magazine interview are being misconstrued and taken out of context. I have and will continue to support my husband's dreams," Bryant told TMZ.com.
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"I have been with Kobe for 13 years. I accepted his marriage proposal PRIOR to him winning any of his 5 championships with his teammates. For anyone to think otherwise is wrong. It is not about being married to a 'winner' it is about our sacrifice as a family," she added.
Bryant accepted Kobe's marriage proposal in May 2000, which was one month before he went on to win first ever championship in June of 2000, according to TMZ.
In the controversial interview, Bryant discussed designer labels, her marriage, and at one point bragged about getting preferential treatment from the Lakers organization whenever she attends her husband's basketball games.
Bryant is often photographed kissing her Lakers star husband after games in a tunnel on the way to the team locker room, which she admits is special access "that that other wives don't have."
"If you notice, I am the only one allowed in that tunnel," Bryant boasted. "I don't like standing outside and giving him a kiss in front of all the cameras. So I stand in there to get away from them. But then the cameras end up following."
The controversy surrounding Bryant's interview comes just two month after she called off her divorce from Kobe, to work toward repairing their marriage.
Bryant had initially filed for divorce after 10 years of marriage on Dec. 16, 2011 amid reports of infidelity, and was accused of waiting for the 10-year mark to secure half of Kobe's estimated $300 million fortune under California law.
Six months later, Bryant chose not to sign the documents that would make the couple's divorce final and their marriage is said to be doing well.
