NEW YORK (AP) – Fox edited out a portion of Kobe Bryant’s acceptance speech at the Teen Choice Awards this week where he appeared to make a reference to the sexual assault charge against him.
The Los Angeles Lakers star, accepting the award for favorite male sports figure, said, “an injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere.”
Fox’s broadcast standards department felt the remark was not germane to accepting an award for his sports exploits, network spokesman Scott Grogin said on Friday.
Taped a week earlier, the Teen Choice Awards were aired Wednesday night, the same day Bryant appeared in a Colorado courtroom. A 19-year-old woman has accused the basketball player of assaulting her at a nearby resort. Bryant, 24, has said the sex was consensual.
In the portion that was broadcast on Fox, Bryant saluted an audience that mostly cheered him, although there were a few boos.
“We’re flying through some dark clouds,” he said. “With God’s will, the sun will rise and shine again. Thanks for your support, thanks for your prayers.”
AP-ES-08-08-03 1303EDT
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