Greetings, everyone, and welcome. Vanessa Bryant, the wife of the late Kobe Bryant, finds herself entangled in a legal dispute with her mother, Sophia, over financial matters. This narrative is particularly poignant given Vanessa’s recent hardships, having endured the tragic loss of her husband Kobe and their 13-year-old daughter Gigi earlier this year. Amidst her grieving process, Vanessa has encountered challenges, notably the lack of support from her mother, who now brazenly threatens legal action against her.
Recall that in September, Sophia appeared on “El Gordo e la Flaca” on Univision, where she aired grievances against Vanessa, alleging that Vanessa had stripped her of her home and car, leaving her with nothing. Sophia’s motivation for the interview stemmed from Vanessa’s attempts to sell a property and vehicle that were not under Sophia’s ownership. Vanessa, understandably upset by her mother’s public airing of grievances, clarified that she continued to financially support her mother, in addition to the alimony Sophia received from her ex-husband. Vanessa had even provided her mother with an apartment, although Sophia expressed dissatisfaction with the downsized accommodation.
Now, Sophia has escalated the conflict by filing a formal complaint and seeking legal recourse against Vanessa and the Bryant estate, claiming entitlement to further financial compensation. She alleges that Kobe had promised her a home within his trust and asserts that she should be compensated for her years of service to the Bryant family.
Vanessa recently responded to her mother’s claims, and I’ll share her statement as translated by The Industry on Blast. She stated, “My mother persistently seeks financial gain from our family. I’ve supported her for nearly two decades, during which she was never employed as my personal assistant, Kobe’s, or a babysitter. I’ve always been a stay-at-home mother, and my husband and I have cared for our children ourselves for almost twenty years. We provided my mother with accommodation in nearby properties at no cost, as she claimed to lack the means to buy her own home after her divorce. However, we believed it was better for her not to live in our primary residence. While she occasionally helped care for our daughters, as most grandparents do, she was not involved in managing our affairs or expenses. She was a grandmother supported by me and my husband.
Upon my mother’s request to be compensated $96 per hour for allegedly working 12 hours a day for 18 years to care for her grandchildren, it became evident that her claims were unfounded. She only occasionally babysat my older daughters when they were young. Ten years ago, our children were full-time students and athletes, and we did not have another child until 2016. Despite her false allegations, I repeatedly attempted to reconcile with my mother.
Contrary to her claims, I have not left my children’s side since the accident, except for necessary arrangements and visits to the cemetery. Earlier this year, she was actively seeking a new home for herself. Yet, a week later, she appeared on television, maligning our family and making baseless accusations while residing rent-free in a gated apartment complex in Newport Coast.
Even after this betrayal, I offered my mother monthly support for the rest of her life, which she deemed insufficient. She subsequently reached out through intermediaries, demanding $5 million, a house, and a Mercedes truck. Refusing to succumb to her threats and financial demands has only escalated her behavior, resulting in false and outlandish claims.
Moreover, she continues to receive monthly alimony from her ex-husband since 2004, while my husband and I have never discouraged her from supporting herself. Her demands are frivolous, disgraceful, and deeply hurtful. My husband made no promises to my mother, and I am profoundly disappointed by her lack of empathy and her actions.”
Vanessa expressed her deep sorrow over her mother’s greed, clearly shattered by the betrayal. It’s unfathomable to comprehend a mother’s actions toward her grieving daughter. Why would she relentlessly pursue more money from her own flesh and blood? Vanessa has already given her mother plenty, yet her emotional and mental well-being seems of little concern. Having endured the loss of both her husband and child in the same year, Vanessa’s mother’s sole focus appears to be money. It’s sickening to witness. Whatever opinions exist about Kobe Bryant’s parents, they never stooped to such depths; no parent should. It’s a heartbreaking situation, leaving a bitter taste.
Switching gears, there’s been chatter online about rapper CupcakKe dropping a diss track aimed at several industry peers, sparking mixed reactions. CupcakKe put her spin on “How to Rob,” a concept originally from 50 Cent, who drew inspiration from Biggie’s “Dreams.” In that song, Biggie fantasized about celebrity liaisons, while 50 flipped it, targeting celebrities he’d hypothetically rob. No one was spared in his humorous rampage, from rappers to gospel singers. CupcakKe followed suit with her rendition, injecting her unique style into the mix. While I won’t delve into every detail, let’s explore some highlights.
She proclaimed, “Drop Offset, prowling the jungle like a cheetah wannabe. Shady’s mercy, I could make Wiz Khalifa gag on a Newport. Is that Tory Lanez or Too Short in the mix? Pocketing a stash from Young M.A in the heart of New York. Snagging Lizzo, dragging her from the food court. And snagging Little Baby is a breeze, just keep a couple of O’s handy, ’cause Little Baby’s all about the hustle. Child. And then there’s crashing through your party just to locate Cardi like, ‘Hey, I’m bringing back your original smile, B.’ Shady. Furthermore, ‘Who’s this Sookie chick showing up when promoters can’t book me? Since you’re all about OnlyFans, I’m your only fan at the show, what’s goodie? Making a mess of a whole Durk show, blowing that place up in the middle. City Girls leaking like a period when I pistol-whipped them out there burkin’. Empty your bag, hand over everything. Approaching Megan like, ‘Give up your cash,’ but you can’t even run ’cause you just got shot.’ Alright, that line made me squirm a bit, it’s just too soon. Too soon. Then she took a swipe at Mulatto, saying, ‘Oh, that’s Mulatto? Well, we hit the jackpot, gonna knock some sense into her.’ And she didn’t spare Doja Cat either. ‘Whole gang in this place, I’m the ultimate bully, rocking Valenciagas with the all-black hoodie. Might as well spell it Dolce Cat, ’cause when it comes to Doja Cat, she’s part of the crew.’ And Dream Doll got a hit too, ‘Your music’s dreadful, unbearable, might want to switch up that flow. As we speak on God, but of course, when your name’s Dream Doll, folks are gonna stay snoozing on God.’
Final Thoughts: She also took shots at other rappers, all in good fun, of course. While some lines might have been offensive, overall, I found it pretty cool. However, her jab at Megan felt a bit off-putting. Instead of poking fun at her shooting incident, she could have chosen a different approach that wouldn’t unsettle the audience. Besides that, I appreciated the song for what it was. CupcakKe seems intent on sparking controversy and making a name for herself, unafraid to stir up some competition. In the world of hip-hop, competition is the name of the game. Diss tracks and call-outs are par for the course, as seen with Kendrick Lamar’s “Control” and Nicki Minaj’s “Barbie Dreams.” It’s all part of the fun, and sometimes, it can get pretty competitive. I’m hoping some of the rappers respond to CupcakKe. They shouldn’t let her comments slide; they should fire back and keep the competition alive because, let’s face it, it’s entertaining.
Some individuals expressed their concerns regarding CupcakKe’s song. Sukihana voiced her disapproval, particularly taking offense at the line ‘I wish a knock-kneed hoe would rob me,’ as she felt targeted by the diss. Another rapper, Young Baby Tate, also chimed in, criticizing CupcakKe for constantly speaking negatively about others. Tate emphasized the importance of spreading positivity and condemned the mention of violence against black women in the song, stating, “That’s not just rap. You could have said literally anything else.”
Taking to Instagram Live, Tate further addressed the issue, stressing that joking about serious matters like violence against black women is unacceptable. She urged CupcakKe to utilize her talent positively instead of resorting to negativity.
Additionally, the speaker expressed discomfort with another line in the song referencing Lizzo, highlighting the harmful nature of fat phobia, especially considering Lizzo’s ongoing journey of self-improvement. The speaker criticized such lines as not just playful banter but rather as contributing to bullying and meanness.
I get where Young Baby Tate is coming from. Some may say she’s being sensitive, but I believe her sensitivity is justified. However, it wasn’t necessary for her to respond since CupcakKe didn’t mention her in the song. This isn’t her battle to fight. Those CupcakKe mentioned have the right to respond, and it’s their call whether they do or not. Others shouldn’t take it personally if they weren’t mentioned. Yet, I did notice some individuals getting worked up about it. Even Love & Hip Hop star Bobby Lights weighed in, suggesting CupcakKe’s actions stem from a desire for recognition and attention. He feels CupcakKe is frustrated with not being at the forefront, while others gain popularity. While CupcakKe has been in the game for a while, her music might not resonate with everyone. Still, her choice to target popular artists in her diss track seems strategic for garnering attention and sparking competition. As an independent artist, she understands the value of stirring up buzz. While it may seem like a clout-chasing move, it’s part of her marketing strategy. CupcakKe’s talent shouldn’t be dismissed, and she does have some catchy tunes. Instead of criticizing, I’m intrigued to see if any of the mentioned rappers will respond, as it could make for entertaining back-and-forth banter.