HBO orders a billboard honoring workers to be taken down after it covered a mural of Kobe Bryant
Dozens of murals were put up across Los Angeles to honor Kobe Bryant after his death in January.
But one was recently covered up by an HBO billboard promoting its staff.
The premium network claims it did not know the original mural would be covered and ordered its billboard be immediately removed on Tuesday, TMZ reported.
Covered: An HBO billboard in Los Angeles recently covered a mural honoring Kobe Bryant, thought the network claimed to not know of the original and ordered their billboard to be removed on Tuesday
The HBO billboard read ‘Our crews. Our talent. You make us proud, make us family, and make us HBO.’
Twitter user Patrick, whose bio lists his employment at Ringer, tweeted photos of the original mural and the new HBO billboard.
‘Where there used to be a Kobe mural, there’s now an HBO billboard,’ he tweeted.
Adding, ‘It doesn’t even fully cover the Kobe painting,’ as the golden frame edges of the mural were still visible.
Original: The original mural showed Kobe, in his number 24 Lakers jersey, ascending with angel wings and a basketball in hand
Sharing news: ‘Where there used to be a Kobe mural, there’s now an HBO billboard,’ he tweeted
The original mural showed Kobe, in his number 24 Lakers jersey, ascending with angel wings and a basketball in hand.
Below him other iconic players, including Lebron James and Michael Jordan, fall to the ground as a serpent encircles them.
Kobe tragically died in January, aged 41, when his private helicopter crashed in Calabasas, California, killing him and eight other people, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna.
Sad loss: The basketball legend tragically died in January, aged 41, when his private helicopter crashed in Calabasas, California, killing him and eight other people, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna
It was recently announced Kobe will be honored with the Los Angeles Area Emmy Governors Award.
He has been chosen thanks to ‘his legacy of philanthropy, community building and inspiration that extended beyond the basketball court’.
The Emmy Governors Award gets presented to an individual, company or organization seen to have made a substantial contribution to the greater LA area, as well as an outstanding, visionary and innovative achievements to either arts, sciences or television management.
Accolade: The late Kobe Bryant will be honored with the Los Angeles Area Emmy Governors Award. Seen with his Oscar in 2018
Kobe was nominated by Spectrum SportsNet for his contributions to the NBA franchise – which saw him win five championships – in addition to 18 All-Star appearances and two Olympic Games.
The Academy also recognizes how the former Lakers star ‘championed a number of worthy causes and critical issues, becoming an ambassador for women’s basketball, a mentor and youth advocate, and raised awareness of homelessness in Los Angeles’.
The award will be presented during the 72nd LA Area Emmy Awards during a live stream on July 18 on Emmys.com.