A Custom Kobe And Gianna Bryant Lamborghini Is Up For Sale & Some Fans Think It Was Made In Poor Taste
Tributes continue to flood in honoring Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna. One man decided to pay homage to the deceased father and daughter by giving his Lamborghini a custom paint job, and now, he is putting the ride up for sale. Not all fans are pleased with the artwork, as they have accused the man of being exploitative of the tragedy.
The NBA continues to mourn the sudden passing of Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter as the league had numerous tributes to the pair over All-Star Weekend in Chicago, Illinois. Meanwhile, someone was turning heads on the streets of Chicago with his eye-catching tribute to the Los Angeles Lakers icon. As reported by TMZ Sports, Joe Carbonara had a 2015 Lamborghini Huracan painted in the colors of the Lakers.
Carbonara told the outlet he was so saddened by the news of the helicopter crash which killed Bryant, his daughter, and seven others that he decided to get the supercar painted in purple and gold. The car has the former NBA MVP’s jersey number “24” on both doors and features a gold stripe down the middle.
On the roof is a touching tribute with a mural of Bryant holding Gianna while wearing a Lakers jersey. Behind him is a basketball net, with an illuminated ring giving the appearance of a halo over the late basketball legend’s head.
The car owner told TMZ Sports that his vehicle was customized at X-Treme Graphics in Chicago shortly after the January 26 helicopter crash. Speaking to the outlet, the shop’s owner Steve Zielinski said it took his team two days to complete the paint job, which was done free of charge.
“I had to make sure it was good and not overdone,” Zielinski added. “And we didn’t charge for it.”
They brought out a Lambo honoring Kobe and Gigi to All-Star and it looks amazing ?
(via @ashleeonair, briancee_/Instagram) pic.twitter.com/ZM2GHpQCHj
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 16, 2020
Not all fans are happy with the paint job, as some have accused Carbonara of exploiting the tragic deaths. Some voiced their displeasure in replies to a SportsCenter Twitter post showcasing the car.
“I kind of get the feeling it really isn’t bout Kobe anymore….was it ever,” one wrote.
Another Twitter user said the customization was simply done to make money and was not an earnest tribute.
“It’s an ADVERTISEMENT… NOT an Admiration! Shameful,” the Twitter user replied.
As the car went viral when it was shared by celebrities such as Ludacris, Carbonara said he does plan to put the custom ride up for sale. He has given an asking price of $170,000 for the vehicle but in the interim, he says he plans to use it as much as possible by bringing it to events and featuring the car in music videos.
