Although it was rumored Vanessa Bryant would be joining the cast of VH1′s Basketball Wives, it looks like she has her eyes for the Hills. Producers of Bravo’s Real Housewives of Beverly Hills are interested in adding the former Mrs. Kobe Bryant next season. With Camille Grammer rumored to be leaving the show and Lisa Vanderpump getting her own spin-off, Bravo execs are hoping their replacements are able to sustain the ratings as the highest rated Housewives series.
In 2009, Bravo tried to recruit Bryant to join the Orange Country franchise, but Kobe Bryant reportedly said no. Bryant is not the first jersey chaser to become a Housewife. Scottie Pippen’s wife was part of the Miami cast, which was canceled after just one season. Much like Beverly Hills cast members Brandi Glanville and Grammer, Bryant is going through a very public divorce with a settlement rumored to be $75 million and includes three of the couples’ homes.
Also on the Bravo RHOBH wish list, reality TV vet Lisa Gastineau, who had her own E! series, Gastineau Girls, with daughter Brittny from 2005-2006. Gastineau was married to NFL player Mark Gastineau before divorcing him in 1991.
What do you do with $75 million? If you are Vanessa Bryant go on reality TV. The former wife of Kobe Bryant is being heavily recurited by the producers of VH1′s Basketball Wives.
TMZ is reportingthat “producers never dreamed of approaching Vanessa while she was married to Kobe … and our sources say Vanessa would NOT have been receptive.”
Basketball Wives is now the highest rated show on VH1, and with an expanded budget producers are hoping to lure Vanessa with a lucrative offer. Not that Vanessa needs the money, along with the $75 million settlment, Vanessa walked away with three of the couple’s houses.
The former Mrs. Bryant would join high profile NBA ex-wife Shaunie O’Neil. Kobe Bryant’s 10-year marriage to Vanessa ended after years of infidelity. Vanessa filed for divorce after discovering Kobe’s latest affair with Kim Kardashian’s best friend and reality TV producer Carla DiBello.
Magic Johnson is one of the greatest basketball players of all time and the most prevelant faces in the fight against HIV. Since his diagnosis in 1991, Johnson has dedicated his life to HIV awareness. Now, Johnson hopes to use hip hop to decrease homophobia within African American culture.
“As a hip-hop fan, you realize that homophobia is still an issue everywhere, but especially in the black community. When people are scared to talk about it, that’s how the disease spreads,” Magic told the Huffington Post.
“I have a lot of friends in [the hip hop] industry and so what we’re trying to do is rally them to get behind the cause, deliver the message to these young people that HIV and AIDS is big and it’s not going anywhere.”
Maybe Magic can call on fellow basketball player rapper Ron Artest or Metta World Peace.
It seems as if there wasn’t a big enough diamound to save their marriage, and Kobe Bryant’swife has filed for divorce. Vanessa Bryant is citing irreconcilable differences, ending the couple’s 10 1/12 year marriage. According to TMZ, the marriage ended because Vanessa believes her husband was unfaithful. In 2003, Vanessa stood by her husband after Kobe was charged with sexually assaulting a Colorado woman. At the same time, Kobe gave Vanessa a $4 million engagement ring.
In the legal documents, Vanessa is requesting joint custody of their 2 daughters, 8-year-old Natalia and 5-year-old Gianna but is asking Kobe be granted visitation rights. The couple do not have a prenup.
It was reported that Vanessa Bryant had a long standing fued with rival Laker wife Khloe Kardashian.Last week, Lamar Odom was traded from the Lakers to the Dallas Mavericks. Despite the reported Vanessa-Khloe fued, Kobe was outspoken about the trade.
“You’re talking about the sixth man of the year last year,” Kobe said. ”I mean, he played lights out. I don’t understand the criticism of reality shows and this, that and the other. I don’t get it. I don’t understand it. He had his best season last season. It clearly wasn’t a distraction. He played his ass off.”
