The sudden death of Kobe Bryant and his thirteen-year old daughter Gianna on Jan. 26 sent shockwaves throughout the world. Following his death was an outpour of love and admiration for the former NBA star, centered around the narrative of an ideal father, husband, player and mentor. His impressive athletic career, Oscar-winning short film, mentorship of young athletes and encouragement of women’s basketball, all point to a life worthy of praise.

In 2003, Kobe Bryant’s ideal, role model-esque image was undercut by a troubling incident, sending his fans into shock. The star athlete was accused of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old in a hotel room at the Lodge and Spa at the Cordillera, Colorado. He was officially charged, but the accuser was unable to cope with the tactics used by Bryant’s defense team to undermine her credibility, which included digging into her personal and sexual history, and withdrew the case.

Later, Bryant issued a statement saying “Although I truly believe that this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did.”

This will never right his wrong, nevertheless the story will be incomplete without acknowledging his recognition of difference in perspectives. On the other hand, assaulters who acknowledge a mere difference in perspective, especially those who have the tendency to be exalted courtesy of their celebrity status, should not be let off the hook.

This accusation only caused a blip in his career trajectory. Some companies withdrew endorsement deals, but Bryant’s career remained unaffected. He continued to play for the Lakers, receive praise and garner respect. As far as most of the world was concerned, none of this ever happened. Part of the reason is simply that the socio-political climate of 2003 was vastly different from that of today.

The rise of the #MeToo movement and its impact on the conversation surrounding sexual harassment has changed the way our society now approaches it. There is more awareness, more transparency, and, most importantly, more action. A question then arises: is the period immediately following Bryant’s death the right time to have this conversation? Many fans who are just finding out about these allegations refuse to let Kobe’s memory be defined by them. To them, it is as simple as the situation not being given enough attention during his lifetime: even posthumously, it should not become a part of his legacy. Admirers are also claiming that those bringing up the conversation now are only doing it to either grab internet attention by sensationalizing allegations during emotional times or to score brownie points for being ‘woke’.

Certainly, this is a difficult situation to navigate because it is accompanied by strong sentiments. To speak of the allegation is to besmirch Bryant’s legacy, both in his personal and professional capacity. To not speak of the allegation is to disregard his authentic legacy, errs and all. It is to discredit the victim and silence someone’s truth.

Unsurprisingly, the conversation has become polarized, but the very fact that this conversation never took off during Bryant’s lifetime is indicative of how desperately it needs to happen. Avoiding this conversation implies that death absolves the past, no matter what it may be, and distorts the true legacy of Bryant — one that will influence generations to come.

Allowing this conversation the space to exist will not undermine his entire legacy.

Acknowledging the warts in his story does not take away from his glory as an athlete, nor does it diminish the role he played in his family. It merely allows an important part of Bryant’s history to finally be acknowledged. It provides a more accurate picture of how his life interacted with that of another life, for all too often, we forget that the victim is not only a victim; she too had a life. Simply because her life was never celebrated in public does not make it any less important.

Given that we live in a world where powerful men routinely dismiss allegations against them, Bryant’s apology stands out. This is one of the few instances in history when a man accused of sexual assault admits that his version does not triumph the victim’s version. Although an apology itself does not make Bryant a hero, it does, indicate that the conversation surrounding sexual misconduct does not need to be as polarized as it is now, and that there is a path to redemption. And for redemption to be on the table, we must first acknowledge that there are multiple truths to Kobe’s life.

The legacy of public figures resides in the domain of public memory. It is important to preserve this memory in a way that does not compromise the truth, simply because the truth is difficult to swallow. Kobe’s legacy deserves more. His willingness to accept his mistakes and his attempts to grow from it deserve more. More importantly, she deserves more.

It is possible to preserve the legacy of Bryant while keeping in mind the painful and traumatic experience of his victim. It may be a challenging conversation to have in the wake of his death, but to completely dismiss it from the narrative surrounding his life is to deny its very existence. For too long, society has turned to convenient falsehoods to mask the horrors of reality.