Vanessa Bryant filed for divorce from Lakers star Kobe Bryant on Friday after more than ten years of marriage. Despite the fact that she cited “irreconcilable difference,” sources are pinpointing the reason for the split at Kobe’s infidelity.
Vanessa reportedly learned of Kobe’s cheating ways from the basketball wives of the NBA, reports TMZ.
According to TMZ’s sources, Kobe’s teammates were gossiping to their wives about Kobe’s extramarital exploits. Those women then supposedly turned around and told Vanessa. Talk of Kobe’s exploits reportedly increased in frequency as of late.
The source added that the players usually ask their wives to keep the information hush-hush, but that secrecy is rarely kept. Supposedly, the basketball wives are more likely to share gossip willingly so that if their beau ever steps out they are sure to be notified.
Kobe’s philandering ways were infamously revealed in July 2003 when a Colorado woman charged him of sexual assault. Katelyn Faber, 19-years-old at the time, reported that Bryant had checked into The Lodge and Spa at Cordillera in Eagle County before knee surgery. Faber accused Kobe of raping her in her hotel room the night before his operation.
“She’s been dealing with these incidents for a long time and has been a faithful wife, but she’s finally had enough,” the source told TMZ, adding, “This one is the straw that broke the camel’s back.” TMZ reports that there was no prenuptial between the two. That means Vanessa will get to keep half of Kobe’s $150 million fortune (which had previously been estimated at $400 million). She also has gotten possession of their Newport Coast, Orange County Cali., mansion.
Kobe met Vanessa, then Vanessa Laine, in November 1999 while on the set of his music video (which was never released). Vanessa was a back-up dancer for The Eastsidaz video for the song “G’ed Up.” The Laker began dating the young beauty and they got engaged in May 2000. Kobe was 21-years-old and Vanessa was just 17-years-old; she was still a senior in high school.
