SALT LAKE CITY, Utah –Karl Malone Jr. the son of Utah Jazz Hall of Fame forward Karl Malone released a video on Instagram addressing his father’s statutory rape case during his time at Louisana Tech. Malone was thrown back into the spotlight during ESPN’s “The Last Dance” documentary. The 10 part series covered the 1998 Chicago Bulls and their matchup with the Jazz in the Finals.
The video is one of the rare instances the family has spoken about the case publically. In 1983, Malone, then 20, fathered a child with a 13-year-old girl named Gloria Bell. Malone was a star college player at Lousiana Tech when the rape occurred.
Karl Malone, moments after being denied a Championship for the 2nd time – boards the Bulls team bus to graduate every Bulls player. #AllClass #TheLastDance pic.twitter.com/ZN0d9tHqhV
— George Whitfield Jr. (@georgewhitfield) May 18, 2020
In 1986, Bell’s parent’s named Malone in a paternity lawsuit seeking child support for Demetress Bell. After being ordered to pay Bell’s family $125 a week, plus medical expenses. Malone reached an out of court settlement with the family between 1988 and 1989.
Bell would become a five-year NFL veteran with the Buffalo Bills, Philsdelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys. Bell played college football at Northwestern State.
Karl Malone Jr.’s Instagram Post
Karl Malone Jr., also known as K.J. played college football at LSU. The former Tiger addressed his father’s past in a series of tweets Monday. The videos contain graphic language, user discretion is advised.
“I’m probably going to get a lot of backfire for this,” K.J. says. “My mom is probably going to get mad at me. But at the end of the day I’m doing this for my family. Just standing up for my dad.”
The Jazz forward’s appearance drew scrutiny on twitter from those criticizing Malone’s past.
“He made a mistake, but at the end of the day, he’s still a great dad,” K.J. petitioned. “He still takes care of Demetress. Demetress is my brother, I love him to death.”
Demetress, now 36-years-old makes frequent appearances on Malone family social media posts.
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A post shared by Kay Malone (@mamail32) on
“My dad is a part of all of his kids lives,” K.J. said. “People want to think he’s not, but he literally does anything for us. He’d take his shirt off his back for anybody. That’s just who he is.”
K.J. explained the toll the backlash takes on his mother, Kay.
“It doesn’t only hurt me,” K.J. said. “It hurts me seeing my mom because my mom literally deals with all of this.”
K.J. said the vitriol exists even with Malone’s family.
“My mom has to deal with my dad’s family members calling her out every week because she’s not black,” K.J. said. Kay is the descendent of Filipino and white parents.
“My mom still stays strong,” .J. said. “Yes, my mom’s active on social media, but she still sees the things the people say about my dad. It hurts her because she knows that’s not who my dad is.”
Malone’s Family
Kay reposted K.J.s video and addressed a statement to her son in the description.
“I am so [expletive] proud of you for speaking up and just know LOVE conquers all,” Malone wrote. “And that’s what we have as a family. As a mama I will always look out for my family. Instead of looking at people’s failures let’s celebrate their achievements and their loving hearts. I pray for all those people that are in a dark place that the only thing they know is to be ugly. I pray God wraps their arms around them and hope they feel the love that you have given me. This to shall pass.”
K.J. and Demetress aren’t the only professional athletes to come from the Malone family. Malone’s daughter Cheryl Ford played in the WNBA with the Detroit Shock. In total, Malone is the father of seven children.
