Shaquille O’Neal Shows Support for Vanessa Bryant for ‘Holding People Responsible’ in Ongoing Lawsuit Against Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputies

Shaquille O’Neal is showing his support for Vanessa Bryant.

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight on Thursday, the former NBA star, 50, praised the late Kobe Bryant‘s wife for “holding people responsible” following his death in January 2020.

“I feel for her,” O’Neal said to ET. “We’ve never talked a lot [but] we’ve always had respect for each other. Every time I see her, it’s a hug, it’s a laugh.”

The retired athlete, now an NBA analyst, continued by saying he “couldn’t imagine what she’s going through.”

Vanessa, 40, is currently seeking damages for emotional distress and mental anguish following the news that eight L.A. County Sheriff’s Department deputies allegedly took graphic photographs of the January 2020 helicopter-crash victims and shared them with unauthorized people.

“We live in a world where, especially when it gets to the internet, people don’t care,” O’Neal said to the outlet. “But those are pictures that I would never, ever want to see, so she’s doing a great thing by holding people responsible.”

This is not the first time O’Neal has shown support for his late teammate’s family after his passing. In Kobe’s celebration of life in February, O’Neal delivered a heartfelt tribute where he reflected on their friendship and the memorable moments they shared as Los Angeles Lakers teammates.

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SOURCE: PEOPLE, Giovana Gelhoren