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Kobe Bryant was excluded from the jury of the Animation Is Film Festival following a violent reaction to a rape complaint. Although former LA star Lakers has been chosen to serve as a juror at this weekend's Hollywood event, organizers announced on Wednesday that he would no longer participate.
"After discussions with the various stakeholders of Animation Is Film, the decision was made to remove Kobe Bryant from the 2018 jury," said Eric Beckman, founder of the festival and CEO of GKIDS, in a statement. "We are a young organization and it is important to keep our collective energy focused on participating films, filmmakers and festival-goers."
Last week, a petition was created on Change.org for Bryant – who won an Oscar for his short film 2017 Dear Basketball – be struck off the jury list due to a charge of sexual assault against him in the past.
"It is urgent to say NO to the toxic and violent behaviors towards the women", one reads in the petition, which has collected only 159 signatures. "Keeping Kobe Bryant on the jury sets a precedent of clemency for sex offenders and further undermines the visibility and respect that victims of harassment and assault deserve."
Bryant responded to his striking off the jury of Animation Is Film in a statement, obtained by The Hollywood journalist.
"I was honored to have been originally invited by Animation Is Film to be part of the 2018 jury, and I am disappointed to no longer serve as such," said Bryant. "This decision motivates me further and encourages me to build a studio focused on diversity and inclusion in storytelling for the animation industry. I remain committed to changing the world of positive way through diverse stories, characters and leadership, to inspire the next generation. "
Bryant was arrested in July 2003 after a 19-year-old hotel employee claimed that she had been raped by the 24-year-old. The woman refused to testify and the case was subsequently closed. Bryant, now 40, said he felt that their interaction was consensual and publicly apologized in a statement at the time.
"Although I sincerely believe that this meeting between us was consensual, I now admit that she did not see it and did not see this incident in the same way as me," said Bryant in part. "After months of discovery, listening to her lawyer, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she has not consented to this meeting."
Bryant – who retired from the NBA in 2016 – and the hotel employee finally resolved the case to the "satisfaction of both parties" in March 2005.
This article originally appeared in THR.com.
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