There are some things you can never forgive, particularly if the offender has never taken responsibility for their actions. Recently, Karl Malone spoke about raping a 13-year-old girl named Gloria Bell when he was 20 and getting her pregnant
If you’re not familiar with the story, here are some specifics.
Karl Malone opens up on raping a 13-year-old girl Gloria Bell when he was 20 and getting her pregnant
Malone did not speak to the media during the weekend but did give one interview to the Salt Lake Tribune, where he took no accountability for his actions, “As players, we hear what’s written about us or said about us,” Malone said.
So then, what does he think of the more negative perception of him?
“I’m not discussing any of that backlash. I don’t care,” he said. “That’s my life, that’s my personal life, and I’ll deal with that like I’ve had to deal with everything. So, whatever.
“Whatever. I’m human.”
You may have even seen the Louisiana tourism advertisement with Cheryl Ford and her well-known father, who entered his twin children’s lives at the age of 17. Bell claims that Malone informed him that it was too late for him to be his father and that he would have to depend on himself. Malone allegedly got Bell’s mother pregnant when she was 13 and he was a second-year student at Louisiana Tech. Malone is fortunate that Chris Hansen wasn’t present since it spared him from having to face the law.
It would be one thing if Malone couldn’t support his son financially, but during his NBA career, he earned more than $100 million. According to The Salt Lake (Utah) Tribune, Bell’s grandparents demanded $200 per week from Malone when they first brought him to court for paternity in 1986, his second season with the Jazz.
Notwithstanding Malone’s lack of response to the lawsuit, a Louisiana judge determined that Malone was Bell’s father after a paternity test confirmed that was actually the case. The judge also mandated that Malone pay $125 per week in addition to past and future medical costs. Malone asserted that was excessive and later settled privately outside of court with Bell’s family between 1988 and 1989.
The NBA sent out Malone over All-Star weekend in the hopes that no one would bring it up because nothing of the sort had actually occurred. Malone avoided speaking to the media over the weekend, but he did grant the Salt Lake Tribune an interview where he refused to accept responsibility for his actions.
Did Malone accept the fault?
Malone’s appointment as one of the five judges for Saturday night’s Dunk Contest was officially announced by the NBA on social media, and the revelation drew a flood of comments from those who were shocked that the league would accept a statutory rapist and well-known absentee father.
He fathered twins Cheryl and Daryl Ford when he was 17 years old. He was later found in contempt of court for failing to pay child support, but an out-of-court settlement was eventually reached. Gloria Bell was pregnant by Louisiana Tech student Malone when she was 13 years old. Malone later resisted a paternity claim. Demetress, their son, was not acknowledged by him until he was 17 years old.
All of this knowledge is not new, but it is now receiving a lot more attention and response in the face of sexual harassment, racial and social justice, gender identity parity, and police brutality. Malone admitted that as a player, he hears what’s written or said about him. He does not care about any of that criticism since that’s his private life, and he will handle it the same way he has handled everything else.