LeBron James was used in coverage of Kobe Bryant’s death (Picture: Getty)

Kobe Bryant fans were left outraged after BBC News confused the late star for LeBron James in their coverage of his tragic death.

Kobe, 41, as well as his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, were killed this Sunday in Calabasas, California after a helicopter they were flying in crashed.

They were on their way to Mamba Academy in Thousand Oaks, where Gianna was following in the footsteps of her LA Lakers father and attending basketball practice.

All passengers died as a result, with the crash sparking a brush fire that initially halted rescue efforts by the emergency services.


But the BBC News At 10 coverage, which is now circulating online, saw a loving photo of Gianna and Kobe at a basketball game together, then cut to an LA Lakers game, focusing on Kobe’s fellow player, LeBron James.



James’ t-shirt, which bears his name, was clearly visible in the footage, which then cuts to him playing on the court.

Viewers of the coverage labelled the blunder ‘absolutely disgraceful’ and called for action to correct the mistake immediately.

Kobe and his daughter Gianna were both killed in the tragic crash (Picture: Getty)

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One wrote: ‘BBC news using footage of LeBron James instead of Kobe Bryant is absolutely disgraceful’

‘BBC News apologising for showing a picture of Lebron James and not Kobi Bryant! I guess we all look the same! That is very poor journalism at its best!,’ another added.

A third stated: ‘Shocking from the BBC using footage of Lebron James in the Kobe tribute….how do you make such a mistake!!’

Kobe spent 20 years as an LA Lakers legend (Picture: Getty)

‘I wondered why when reporting Kobe Bryant’s death BBC news we’re showing highlights of lebron James’ career???,’ said a fourth. ‘Only for them to go on and admit to and apologise mistaking Kobe for Lebron…! Someone has to get fired for that surely, appalling mishap.’

When approached by Metro.co.uk for comment, a BBC spokesperson said: ‘In tonight’s coverage of the death of Kobe Bryant on BBC News at Ten we mistakenly used pictures of LeBron James in one section of the report.

‘We apologise for this human error which fell below our usual standards on the programme.’

They also apologised on air for the mistake.

Bryant is one of the most successful basketball players of all time having won five NBA championships with LA Lakers, appeared in 18 All-Star games and scoring 33,643 points before retiring in 2016.

Bryant was also named NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2008 and the MVP in two NBA Finals. He also won two gold medals for the USA at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

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Just days before his death, Kobe sent a message to LeBron, congratulating him on surpassing him on the NBA’s all-time scoring list putting him in third place.

Despite being knocked down to the fourth spot, Kobe praised his friend, and shared a photo of them messing around together on Instagram – in what would become his last ever post.

He wrote: ‘On to #2 @kingjames! Keep growing the game and charting the path for the next.’

Hundreds have paid tribute to the beloved star on news of his passing, including the Obamas, who sent their love to his wife Vanessa, and his three other daughters.



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