Film festival cuts ties with Kobe

Kobe Bryant was dropped from the jury of an animated film festival Wednesday after calls for the former NBA star’s ouster over a 2003 rape allegation.

Eric Beckman, the CEO of GKIDS, the company that organizes the Animation Is Film Festival in Los Angeles, announced the move.

An online petition had been circulating demanding that Bryant be dropped.

Bryant won an Academy Award in March for his part in making the animated short “Dear Basketball” and has founded an animation company, Granity Studios.

He released a statement saying he was honored to be invited and disappointed to be excluded.

“This decision further motivates me and my commitment to building a studio that focuses on diversity and inclusion in storytelling for the animation industry,” Bryant said. “I remain focused on changing the world in positive ways through diverse stories, characters, and leadership, in order to inspire the next generation.”

In 2003, Bryant was charged with raping a 19-year-old hotel employee.

The Lakers star said he believed it was a consensual sexual encounter. The case was dropped after Bryant’s accuser refused to testify.

She later filed a civil suit against him, which was settled out of court with Bryant admitting no guilt.

Phoenix officially announced the signing of veteran guard Jamal Crawford, two days after there were multiple reports that Crawford and the Suns had agreed to a one-year deal.

New Orleans claimed guard Tim Frazier off waivers.

The move brings Frazier back to a club with which he averaged 8.3 points and 5.6 assists in 81 games before he was traded to Washington shortly before the 2017 draft.

Suns: Pelicans: