Kobe Bryant is mired in controversy once again. Being popular and outspoken is a tried and tested formula. Almost a year after the controversy, the Trayvon Martin issue divides the African-American community once again.

In an interview with the New Yorker's Ben McGrath, Kobe, perhaps unintentionally, started a social media debate. His words:

"I won't react to something just because I'm supposed to, because I'm an African-American. That argument doesn't make any sense to me. So we want to advance as a society and a culture, but, say, if something happens to an African-American we immediately come to his defense? Yet you want to talk about how far we've progressed as a society? Well, we've progressed as a society, then don't jump to somebody's defense just because they're African-American. You sit and you listen to the facts just like you would in any other situation, right? So I won't assert myself."

To clarify, he did not say that the shooting of Trayvon Martin was justified, just that he refuses to instantly take sides just because of the victim's color.

Dwyane Wade, one of the leaders of the Miami Heat who strongly supported the Trayvon Martin cause, clarified that the issue was not about color but more of a 'local' issue. From Bleacher Report:

"It was our backyard, and being in our backyard, being something that a lot of guys on this team-not only growing up in the kind of environment that Trayvon was in-but also having young boys. Knowing that he is a big fan of the Miami Heat. That is something that we got behind. As a team. I can't even say the organization. It was as a team. We got behind it. And it was more so that than the color of his skin."

Wade's exact term was he 'respectfully disagreed' with one of his biggest rivals.

Comments from social media accused Bryant of being insensitive and 'colorblind.' However, ESPN's Colin Cowherd did mention in his radio show that if Kobe Bryant was indeed colorblind, "Good for you, sir, because that's the way it's supposed to be."

Ben McGrath, who conducted the controversial interview, was quick to clarify Bryant's point in a subsequent column. He also posted Bryant's other quotes that would clarify his earlier statements: "I won't say, 'O.K., I'm going to vote for Obama just because he's an African-American. I'm not going to do that in a million years. You got to sit and take everything as equal and pick the best candidate for the job. That's it."