Kobe Bryant’s deal with Turkish Airlines outrages Armenian Americans

Lakers star Kobe Bryant's two-year endorsement deal with Turkish Airlines has sparked protest among Armenian Americans in Los Angeles and nationwide, some threatening to boycott the basketball player unless he backs out of the contract.

In a statement announcing the deal, Turkish Airlines described Bryant as a "global brand ambassador." The airline is seeking to publicize the start of nonstop flights in March from Istanbul to Los Angeles with the basketball star appearing in a blitz of TV, billboard, print and online ads early next year.

For years, Armenian Americans have pushed the U.S. to recognize the early 20th century killings of some 1.5 million Armenians in what was then the Ottoman Empire as genocide, a term the Turkish government has strenuously rejected.

California has 600,000 to 700,000 Armenians, with a heavy concentration in Southern California, said Aram Hamparian, executive director of the Armenian National Committee of America.

"Many of them are fans of the Lakers and fans of Kobe, at least until now," he said.

Armenians especially object to the airline's close connection to the Turkish government, he said.

"This is not a matter of a private company that Kobe has signed a deal with," Hamparian said. "It's a state carrier with a heavy government affiliation."

The Lakers did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Many outraged fans have taken to radio and social media sites to protest the deal, and some have threatened to boycott Lakers games and Bryant merchandise, said Caspar Jivalagian, executive member of the Armenian Youth Federation's Western region.

"There's a clear backlash already," he said. "People have been calling us, saying, 'I hate Kobe' and 'I won't watch the Lakers anymore.' "

Some Armenians have called on Bryant to show remorse by using his fame to push U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) to schedule a vote on House Resolution 252, which would recognize the Armenian deaths as genocide.

"Kobe is a champion of national basketball and should be a champion of human rights," Jivalagian said. "We want to give him the benefit of the doubt and give him a chance to right this wrong."

RELATED:

Descendants of Armenian genocide victims sue Turkey

-- Shan Li

Photo: Kobe Bryant. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Doyle Dean]

Kobe Bryant is a basketball player and nothing more. does anyone think that he was a serious student when he went to school? It is unlikely that he knows anything about the Armenian Genocide.
Dont'forget this is the same Kobe Bryant that beat a sexual assult case a few years ago in Denver> in that case the victim was put on trial
and Kobe walked free, kinda like O.J...dont expect this buffoon to have any morality..history has proved that Kobe does not respect human rights!!!!!

[Seth]

I am tired of forcing people to take sides on an issue. The Genocide issue is between Turkey and Armenia. Kobe is not morally obligated to take sides.

[Macca Doo]

Turkey is americas friend and ally. Why don't you try boycotting america.

[Andy]

Why don't Jews boycott Germany? Because they're over it. Take notice.

[Marc Eisenman]

Kobe, use this moment in time to shed light on a crime that has been locked in the darkness far too long.

[judgeito]

Cypriot Americans join their Armenian friends in boycotting Kobe and the Lakers.

[Raul Ortiz]

Where was all of this backlash after that incident in Colorado? Where were the protests? It's okay to rape a woman, but a marketing contracts gets a rise out of these people?

[MikeP]

Oh good grief people, let it go, this is the USA 2010. If you want to nurture ancient old-country hatreds, please move back to the old country.

[Robert]

He should know better... money is not everything.... specially when he's got that many followers.

[LL]

yawning.

[Big Game Hunter]

What???!!! GET OVER IT!!!!!! Recognizing a holocaust is important because we can't let history repeat itself and we have to honor the victims. With that said, we have to honor all genocides that occurred throughout history. There is a separate issue at hand though. Failing to honor the genocide is a problem, but continuing the hate is a bigger problem!! Armenians today hate the Turks and that hate will never end. Just speak to an Armenian today and they will vomit hate towards Turks. I have seen it.

I recognize the Jewish Holocaust and I recognize the fact that millions of Jews were executed by the Nazi Regime, but I dont harbor hate towards German people or fault the current German people or government for what the Nazi Regime did years ago. In fact, am i going to boycott BMW's, Mercedes or other German products and people because of an holocaust? NO!!!!!!! In May 2009, I had the honor of attending a seminar at Harvard University and meeting Leopold Engleitner, the oldest Holocaust survivor. I asked him a simple question on how he felt about Germans today and the German government and in his frail shaky voice he responded with a bright smile by saying "I forgave the Germans years ago and I have nothing but love to offer the Germans."

Hating Kobe only circulates more hate. Get over it!!!!!!

[Hagop Boghossian]

The aggravation with Kobe accepting endorsement from Turkish Airlines has a lot to do with the sensitive subject of mass murder and genocide. Yes, I'm pretty sure Kobe mostly cares about making even more money for himself, and possibly does not care much about politics, but there is a bigger message here than simply making Kobe richer... Same as with any other ethnic group or nationality involved in a similar sensitive subject, people will obviously want to voice their concerns... and I would love to hear ANY civilized arguments or responses.

The connection? Turkish Airlines, Turkey's national airline, is headquartered at Atatürk International Airport... THE AIRPORT IS BASICALLY A MONUMENT TO THE PERSON LARGELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FIRST GENOCIDES OF MODERN HISTORY (Mustafa Kemal Atatürk). To many, the name 'Atatürk' alone summons strong feelings about Turkey's mass violations of the most basic of human rights, the mass murder of over 1.5 million. Atatürk is historically known as a major conspirator of the first genocide of modern history, namely the Genocide of millions of Armenians, as well as the Greeks, in the early part of the 20th Century.

So to reiterate, all Kobe has really done is pour salt on a gaping wound, and the true problem lies in the Turkish government's proactive policies of complete denial for any past responsibility, or accountability for the mass murder of millions of human beings. It has been historically documented that the Turkey's lack of accountability inspired the Jewish Holocaust, and possibly other Genocides which have followed. ("Who after all speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?" - Adolf Hitler, August 22, 1939) .... MILLIONS OF PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WILL SPEAK OF IT, until there is some accountability and closure... In conclusion, those who continue to reject undeniable historical and archeological facts of the atrocities that took place (as well as those who are "global ambassador" to their national airlines, i.e Kobe) are supporting the perpetrators of past crimes and mass murder, and encouraging future perpetrators that follow, weather it is deliberate or just an ignorant choice influenced by greed or other biases.

This is my own personal point of view, if anyone has anything to argue or contribute, I would love to hear some civilized responses.

[Darren]

Stop driving Benzes and BMWs if youre so outraged at companies that were complicate in genocide

[Ali]

Who cares if these idiots boycott?

[aces928]

Are these the same Armenians whose home country was arming the Taliban? I don't see or hear them expressing anything over that.

[Chris]

I have an idea, get over it.

[Steve Nobleoski]

It is a commercial and not a political one so what is the problem. The Armenian genocide has not been proven and that is shown by the mere fact that the government is being lobbied to vote on it. Leave Kobe and everyone, Americans out of your dispute.

[Scott]

why the hate? it's been awhile, no? do u know that turkey and germany were allies during wwI? why not boycott mbz & bmw? doubt that would happen. what kind of logic is this?

so the u.s. doesn't recognize this genocide. now what? the u.s. also doesn't officially recognize that social security is the biggest ponzi scheme in history either...

do you get something if it is officially recognized? like the japanese attack of pearl harbor. it's so long ago. let it go. you think jews are driving around beverly hills boycotting german automakers? i think everyone needs to remember and let go. it was a terrible thing that happen. dark moments of many dark moments of humanity. i mean how far back do you go? the crusades were pretty crappy too.

some crazy airline is just throwing money at kobe. good for him. i'm just shocked a company wants to pay him for sponsorship.

[Edward]

I don't think Kobe had the Armenian Genocide in mind when he made the deal. Just what about the other minorities that were killed during the early 20th century in the Ottoman Empire? It's turned into the Holocaust were we only mention the deaths of Jews. What about the Pontian Greeks or the Assyrians, that is the other minorities that were killed? What even happened with the protocols? Do we see American officials doing anything about that? Well done Hilary Clinton. I didn't see why the border would have been opened anyway. The border to be opened, but the Russian base still in Western Armenia with Azerbaijan threatening war? The realities of Armenian issues need to be recognized.

[ScorpionLeather]

The Armenians need to get over it. They can't hold a grudge forever because the Turkish people right now are the great grandchildren of those involved and they have no connection to what happened other than their ancient ancestry.

[Lucy]

Normally, I would say involving politics with social media to a celebrity's status is wrong. But not so considering the possibility that the airlines have close ties with the Turkish Government, who are the large predicament to the denial and falsifications of the Armenian Genocide.
With this said, I believe since millions of his fans are Armenians, he should take into consideration his actions. Not only for losing his fan base, but by using good judgement and ding what is morally ethical. Yes, he will still have plenty of fans, but will this decision cause latter outbreaks in media, his career, or his reputation?

I am a huge Lakers fan, but especially a Kobe fan and I think he has much to think about.

[Homer J]

Don't go to the Laker games then, it be one less foreigner.

[Danny]

Would be possible to separate, sports from politics?

[Mark Fletcher]

Considering the way Armenians treat Black people here in L.A., I don't think Kobe needs to do a single thing. Boycott? I say "So What?!?"

[anonymous]

All this article does is make the Armenian community look bad. It doesn't matter what airline Kobe Bryant signed with, he is an international basketball star and can sign with any airline he chooses. He probably doesn't know anything about the armenian genocide anyway. The world does not revolve around the armenian genocide, which is why i wish this article wasnt written because it makes armenians look as if they think is..most armenians, whether kobe fans or not, can care less.