TMZ claims 'Kobe's people' said they could break death news after backlash intensifies

TMZ’s founder Harvey Levin has defended the site amid reports that it published the news Kobe Bryant had died in a helicopter crash before the basketball legend’s family had been notified.

On Sunday, the outlet was the first to report that Bryant, 41, died after the helicopter he was travelling in crashed in Calabasas, California. It was later confirmed that his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven other people on board had also died.

Shortly after the news broke, law enforcement authorities criticised the tabloid site for its handling of the information during a press conference.

“It would be extremely disrespectful to understand that your loved one perished and you learn about it from TMZ,” Los Angeles County sheriff Alex Villanueva told reporters at the time, in response to questions about the identities of those on board the helicopter.

Los Angeles County Undersheriff Tim Murakami later wrote on Twitter: “I am saddened that I was gathering facts as a media outlet reported that Kobe had passed. I understand getting the scoop but please allow us time to make personal notifications to their loved ones.

“It’s very cold to hear of the loss via media. Breaks my heart.”

The police were not the only ones to condemn the tabloid’s behaviour, as notable people including Maria Shriver and Ellen Pompeo publicly criticised the handling of the news.

“To my colleagues in the media, please tread carefully,” Shriver, the former First Lady of California, wrote on Sunday. “There are real families involved. Losing a loved on in a shocking, public way is brutal. Let’s remember that as we report this story.”

In addition to the suggestion that TMZ had not been in contact with Bryant’s family prior to publishing the news, early reports of the crash - from multiple outlets - included errors. Matt Gutman, the chief national correspondent at ABC News, incorrectly reported that all of Bryant’s children had been on board, while some falsely suggested that the NBA legend’s teammate Rick Fox had been on the helicopter. Gutman later apologised for the error on Twitter.

The Independent has contacted ABC News for comment.

On Tuesday, Pompeo called out TMZ and Levin, as well as the police, in a lengthy Twitter thread where she asked why “sensitive info” is given to the outlet.

“I wonder why police departments give Harvey Levin all this sensitive info?” she wrote, adding: "Why is this guy still in business at all?”

In another tweet, the Grey's Anatomy star accused the outlet of "exploiting the brutal sudden death of people's loved ones," which she called "emotional abuse".

Following concerns over TMZ’s handling of the information, and whether the site had been in contact with the victim’s families prior to publishing the news, Levin has maintained that TMZ had Bryant’s family’s permission.

He was, however, not as clear when questioned about whether the site had been in contact with the families of the other victims.

Speaking with Los Angeles radio station KNX’s In-Depth, Levin said: “We dealt with Kobe’s people for an hour before we published the story and we were told very clearly that she had been notified.” Levin appeared to be referring to Bryant’s wife, Vanessa.

According to Levin, TMZ received the instruction to “go for it” from Bryant’s family after originally receiving the tip from law enforcement.

However, when the radio host pointed out that there were other families on board the helicopter, Levin admitted “that is a fair point”.

“That’s a fair point,” he continued. “And then the question is, and I’m asking you guys, because you guys have been doing this for a long time, if you found out that Kobe Bryant had died on a helicopter and confirmed it, would you wait eight hours until they published the names of the people?”

The Independent has contacted TMZ for comment.