A young man at a comic con in Hangzhou, China, has sparked outrage among NBA fans worldwide after dressing up in a tasteless costume depicting the helicopter crash that claimed the life of basketball legend Kobe Bryant.

The controversial costume has drawn widespread condemnation and highlighted the fine line between cosplay and disrespect.

Video of the shocking Kobe Bryant costume went viral

The individual wore a makeshift helicopter contraption made from bottles and cardboard attached to his arms and back.

He then lay on the ground, mimicking the tragic accident that occurred on January 26, 2020, in Calabasas, California, where Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others lost their lives.

To add to the shock, the man also wore a poorly constructed mask resembling the deceased NBA star.

Despite the disturbing nature of the costume, it initially received little criticism from the convention-goers.

On the contrary, some attendees laughed and took pictures with the individual, seemingly oblivious to the insensitivity of the portrayal.

NBA fans in disbelief of insensitive costume

Once video footage of the display went viral, it sparked a storm of backlash on social media, particularly on X.

One user expressed their disbelief and anger, stating, “How does one ‘cosplay’ the untimely tragic death of a person (along with several others & kids) & think that it’s ‘funny’ .. people are sooooo…??????”

Another user added, “Why are people so weird.. so this person actually conceptualized the costume, slept on it, went ahead & made it, and went on thinking – this is ok?”

The outrage did not stop there.

Another infuriated fan posted, “Hope this guy who cosplayed as Kobe in a Helicopter crash gets hit by a Helicopter.”

The backlash also included remarks about the lack of empathy shown towards the victims and their families.

“Nothing is funny about any of the women, men, or children that lost their lives in that helicopter crash. I have nothing else to say that would be remotely positive regarding this,” one comment noted.

Additionally, some comments pointed out broader societal issues, questioning the cultural context that allowed such a costume to be seen as acceptable.

“China’s Hatred for the Black community, especially black men seriously needs to be looked at…,” one user posted.

The reaction is particularly poignant given the deep admiration Chinese basketball fans have for Kobe Bryant.

In the days following his death, memorials appeared across China, including a massive statue in Guangzhou.

The People’s Daily captured this sentiment in a post, saying, “Your fearlessly striving spirit, whether in basketball or in life, is worthy of remembrance.”

Bryant’s popularity in China has been well-documented.

In 2013, his physical therapist, Judy Seto, described his fanbase in China as “like nothing I’ve ever seen,” recounting scenes of thousands of fans gathering hours before his scheduled appearances.