Vanessa Bryant Testifies She Suffers From Panic Attacks, Lives in Fear Since Learning of Shared Crash Scene Photos

On Friday, Vanessa Bryant testified that she gets panic attacks ever since she learned there is a possibility she could see graphic photos of her late husband and teenage daughter from the 2020 helicopter crash. 

Bryant took the witness stand to recall the moment she learned of The Los Angles Times report alleging that sheriff deputies on call at the crash site took photos of Kobe and Gianna Bryant’s mangled bodies, along with seven other victims.

Bryant filed a federal civil lawsuit against Los Angeles County, disclosing her privacy was invaded, and the County brought on emotional distress by not “properly containing the spread of the photos,” per CNN.  

“I want to remember my husband and my daughter the way they were,” Bryant said emotionally. “I don’t ever want to see these photographs shared or viewed.” 

Chris Chester, whose wife and daughter were also among the crash victims, also filed a civil rights lawsuit against Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies and firefighters seeking answers. 

L.A. County authorities are said to have distributed graphic photos of Kobe and his daughter. A bartender told the federal jury last week that images were shown to him at his workplace by an off-duty officer. 

Bryant adds in court, “I expected them to have more compassion, respect. My husband and my daughter deserve dignity.” 

Defense attorneys argued that firefighters and deputies had official reasons for taking photos at the scene. In addition, they are claiming the five stages of grief and adding “revenge,” referencing a raising issue with Bryant’s Halloween costume, her dressing as Cruella de Vil. 

The attorney’s caption reads, “They say there are five stages of grief: Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Well, I’d like to add one more…revenge. — Cruella.” 

Bryant testifies she dresses in flawed characters to allow her daughters to be good characters, a pattern that hasn’t changed since her husband and daughter’s death. 

Some revelations since the trial started include a sheriff deputy testifying under oath that he did show illicit images to a colleague while playing “Call of Duty,” according to The New York Post.