Vanessa Bryant’s relationship with Kobe was tested in 2003 when a major scandal broke out. As noted by The Daily Beast, Kobe was accused of raping a young woman at a Colorado resort. Kobe later said he had believed the encounter to be consensual and, after several months of the incident being dragged through the press and an apology from Kobe, his accuser dropped the case against him in 2004.
The time was a difficult one for Vanessa, who stood by her husband’s side in spite of his admission of infidelity. She was adamant that her husband was innocent of assault, although she acknowledged that he made “the mistake of adultery,” in a statement (via the NZ Herald).
After the scandal broke out, Vanessa was seen wearing a $4 million purple diamond ring, which the press dubbed an “apology ring.” People noted, however, that the ring was commissioned weeks before the charges were brought against Kobe. Kobe did make a public apology, however, telling her, “you’re the strongest person I know.” He added, “I’m so sorry for having to put you through this and having to put our family through this.”