"Lock up his a– because he needs to be under the jail" - Victor Wembanyama reposts video criticizing Karl Malone on his 62nd birthday

“Lock up his a– because he needs to be under the jail” – Victor Wembanyama reposts video criticizing Karl Malone on his 62nd birthday originally appeared on Basketball Network.

Hall of Famer Karl Malone turned 62 on July 24th, and the league’s “NBA History” X account greeted “The Mailman” on his natal day. The post elicited over 2,000 comments, most of them criticizing his personal life.

San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama did not comment on the post. He, however, reposted a tweet from an “X” user named “J.Strand” which contained a video of content creator Lil Rodney Son, where the latter calls out Malone’s past.

Malone’s controversial past

As the birthday post detailed, Malone is a 14-time NBA All-Star, a two-time MVP, an 11-time All-NBA first-team selection, a three-time All-Defensive first-team member, and a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.

However, while he is one of the most accomplished players in league history, Karl also has quite a controversial private life.

When Malone was 20 years old, he impregnated a 13-year-old neighbor named Gloria Bell. Because the age of consent in Louisiana is 17 years, what Karl did would be considered statutory rape, which should have gotten him a 10-year prison sentence. However, Bell’s family chose not to press criminal charges and opted for a paternity suit.

But Malone refused to respond to the 1985 lawsuit, in which Bell’s parents requested a $200 weekly stipend to assist their daughter in raising Malone’s son. The court ordered the Utah Jazz star to pay a weekly child support of $125, but he appealed, and the parties ended up reaching an out-of-court settlement in which Malone did not have to acknowledge that the boy was his child.

Karl never admitted any fault

While the public has criticized Malone for decades, the NBA and Malone’s peers have always been very careful about discussing or commenting on the issue. Meanwhile, the Jazz legend has never admitted any wrongdoing and has chosen to stay away from the limelight instead.

During the 2023 NBA All-Star weekend in Utah, the league invited Malone to judge the Dunk Contest, which rekindled the public’s anger toward “The Mailman.” But when asked about the issue, Malone was indifferent as usual.

“I’m not discussing any of that backlash. I don’t care,” he said. “That’s my life, that’s my personal life, and I’ll deal with that like I’ve had to deal with everything. So, whatever… I’m human.”

While no public figure is without flaws, history has shown that fans and the media are often willing to move on from controversial chapters — especially when time has passed and accountability has been addressed.

However, the criticism has remained in Malone’s case, largely because he has never publicly acknowledged any wrongdoing. Some believe Wembanyama should avoid commenting on events that happened before his time. Still, his post echoed a broader conversation that continues to surround Malone’s legacy.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 26, 2025, where it first appeared.

“Lock up his a– because he needs to be under the jail” – Victor Wembanyama reposts video criticizing Karl Malone on his 62nd birthday

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