Armenians Upset By Kobe's Deal With Turkish Airlines

There is one group of Los Angeles Lakers fans who are booing team player Kobe Bryant, but not for anything he's doing on the court. The Armenian community is angry about Bryant's just-announced endorsement deal with Turkish Airlines, according to CBS2, stirring up deep-rooted discord between the nations.

Locally, the Armenians gather annually to commemorate the Armenian Genocide, and "calls on Turkey to acknowledge their role in the genocide."

With Bryant named to serve as the airline's "global brand ambassador," the basketball idol is losing fans in the Armenian community, who are outraged the star player will soon be seen in ads for the airline in the U.S. and Middle East in early 2011.

Angry fans have been calling the offices of the Armenian Youth Federation, demanding the group take action. They are questioning Bryant's decision to "put his money before his morality," as one upset fan from the Armenian community said.