At Sundance this year, everyone was talking about The Birth of a Nation, the film produced, written and directed by and starring Nate Parker. Parker worked for years to make this film, about Nat Turner’s 1831 slave rebellion in Virginia, and the result was apparently a cinematic masterpiece. The critics at Sundance were already saying that the film would win all the Oscars. The film will be released in October, which seems to be the sweet spot for potential Best Picture winners these days. Nate Parker is going to be the centerpiece of the Oscar campaign too, for sure, and Hollywood is already eager to reward Parker given the past few years of #OscarsSoWhite.
But there’s a problem. And it’s no small thing. When attending Penn State in 1999, Nate Parker and his roommate Jean McGianni Celestin (who is co-writer on Nation) were charged with the rape of a fellow student. The woman claimed that Celestin and Parker raped her after she passed out from drinking too much. The men claimed the sex was consensual. Both men were put on trial. Parker was acquitted and Celestin was initially found guilty, but the guilty verdict was set aside on appeal. As soon as The Birth of a Nation made waves at Sundance, their past began to be introduced in press pieces. The court case was and is public record and reporters are waiting for the film to be released to really talk about what happened. Basically, everything about these two stories – the story of the film and the story of what happened at Penn State – is a ticking time bomb of hot-button issues and controversy, set to blow up in October when the film is released.
So I can see why Nate Parker is attempting to do damage control months ahead of the film’s release. Parker sat down for a lengthy interview with Deadline and there are no hidden motivations to this. He’s trying to talk about what happened at Penn State in the hopes that his past doesn’t ruin his film’s future. You can read the entire Deadline piece here, and Deadline included some links to the 1999 court documents too. Here’s what Parker says about the rape trial and who he is now:
“I was sure it would come up. It is there, on my Wikipedia page, the Virginia Pilot … I stand here, a 36-year-old man, 17 years removed from one of the most painful … [he wells up at the memory] moments in my life. And I can imagine it was painful, for everyone. I was cleared of everything, of all charges. I’ve done a lot of living, and raised a lot of children. I’ve got five daughters and a lovely wife. My mom lives here with me; I brought her here. I’ve got four younger sisters.”
“Women have been such an important part of my life. I try, every day, to be a better father to my daughters, and a better husband… The reality is, this is a serious issue, a very serious issue, and the fact that there is a dialogue going on right now around the country is paramount. It is critical. The fact we are making moves and taking action to protect women on campuses and off campuses, and educating men and persecuting them when things come up. … I want women to stand up, to speak out when they feel violated, in every degree, as I prepare to take my own daughter to college.”
“I will not relive that period of my life every time I go under the microscope. What do I do? When you have a certain level of success, when things start to work, things go under the microscope and become bigger and bigger things. I can’t control people; I can’t control the way people feel. What I can do is be the most honorable man I can be. Live my life with the most integrity that I can, stand against injustice everywhere I see it, lead charges against injustice against people of color, against the LGBT community. That’s me. The black community is my community, the LGBT community too, and the female community. That is my community. That me, it’s who I am. When I made this film, I said, ‘If you’ve got injustice, this is your film. And I’m coming.’ That is the legacy I want to leave behind. I can’t change anything. You move forward, and every moment you’re alive, you’re living in the moment. I continue to fight for what’s important to me and I will, no matter how deeply I go under this microscope, no matter how bright the spotlight, I will fight against injustice in everything I do. And I will raise children and try to leave a legacy that points to that desire to see the changes happen that I’ve fought for.”
The entire Deadline piece is worth a read – in addition to the interview with Parker, they got a statement from Celestin. Plus, the article does an in-depth analysis about how Parker’s past might affect the potential (or eventual) Oscar campaign. I read the entire piece very carefully and… I still don’t know how I feel. My gut says to believe the victim. My gut says that back in 1999, it was even more difficult to bring rape charges against men, so for the men to go to trial (and for one of those men to be convicted), the prosecution had a solid case. But I also think that it should mean something that Parker was not convicted. As I said, I don’t know how to feel. Ugh.
Here are some photos of Nate Parker posing for GQ a week ago. I imagine this will probably be a cover shoot? I hate to break it to Parker, but this Deadline interview isn’t going to be the last time he has to talk about this. GQ will want to talk about it. As will every trade paper and magazine.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.
He sounds like he doesn’t feel sorry for the victim at all, regardless of whether or not he’s guilty. And in fact he’s trying to get ahead of his previously homophobic comments too. IDK if he’s guilty or not, no one can really ever know at this point, but he sure doesn’t sound remorseful or thoughtful at all. This is just a pure PR move. Purely to serve himself.
There are far better movies coming out this year that feature POC stories. Let’s celebrate those. It’s like this – Woody Allen was never convicted. We talk all the time about how we dislike WA and we don’t support his work. There are other fantastic directors out there other than WA. So it’s the same with Nate Parker. Plenty of great POC directors we should celebrate.
Parker was a star athlete at Penn State. I’m not surprised he was cleared of all charges. Until Sandusky was finally arrested and convicted, Penn State athletes were practically hero worshiped. And I should know, that’s my alma mater.
Yeah, from this excerpt I am not getting Parker talking about what happened then, I am getting Parker praising himself and setting himself up as an inspirational figure.
And I hate the constant mentioning of the women in his life. It’s like being homophobic and saying you have gay friends.
@Megan: I didn’t know that, so he is another star athlete associated with rape. And what do you know…they are all either completely innocent, or just poor victims!
Pretty much this. I don’t know what I was expecting him to say, but I was hoping for something more remorseful and certainly more sympathetic towards rape victims.
Very disappointing.
Right i heard the same non repentant ass tone, I suffered and I forgave myself and grew up so that’s that, this is AWFUL and it’s definitely going to Matter and be talked about, suck for His Movie and his cast but I made a Hard *schreeeech * on 22s, this is where I get off, Unequivocally, Oh Well!
I, too, think he is riding the acquittal wave for all it’s worth. He could have easily been complicit in the event without being the actual rapist, or he could’ve been just as involved as the victim alleged. It is no stretch to believe that as a coddled collegiate athlete almost 20 years ago, he took advantage of the victim’s state of impairment, and now thanks his lucky stars daily that he walked away unscathed, all the while trumpeting about the importance of women in his life, who as a young man he may not have respected as he claims to today.
Me too Megan, and in my experience there I have to agree as well.
From what I have read…he was aquitted because he had slept with her before, on a different day. So the case was kind of giving “blanket consent”. If you say “yes” once, it gives access for eternity.
The film looks really good…but I can’t get over my thoughts about his case. His words here just seem to be all about him.
I know a man who ran a strip club and was friends with another man who ran another strip club in Lansing, MI. They regularly got new young women drunk and raped them – even swapped them. They were both charged with rape for what ended up being the last woman they did this to. They both were found not guilty as their lawyers shredded this poor young woman in the public re her credibility, lack of witnesses (other than the two men charged who protected each other of course) and her being a stripper. One left state and runs a strip club in Florida. The other stayed here but suddenly became a devout Christian, got married w/in months, and had kids. To this day, he behaves as if he’s some Godly man that got caught up in a bad scene. I want to ask him, if he’s not guilty of the rape, why did he completely change his life? I don’t believe he had an epiphany or suddenly had a ‘calling’. What I think is he was trying desperately to reinvent himself so people wouldn’t hate his guts and to prove he’s actually a good guy. I don’t buy it and I never will. I get the same feeling with this guy. Deja vu.
It’s been my experience that men who talk long and loudly about the many women in their lives–especially the whole “I have five daughters!” schtick–are usually the ones who have the most hangups about women. Get those five daughters together and have them tell us about you, see what a badass you are then…
It’s interesting he didn’t say “I didn’t do it”,just “I was cleared of everything, of all charges”. There are a lot of words here but the most important ones slipped his mind, it seems.
Yea….I noticed that too. Also for the victim to pursue this in the 90s and for so long speaks volumes.
I won’t be supporting any of his work. And frankly I am a little bummed that I paid to see beyond the lights before knowing this info!
Oh god, I was looking for it. “I did not rape anyone. I was cleared of all charges.” When he left out the first part, I got worried. And then I worried more and more because the entire excerpt above (I’ll read the whole thing later) sounds like somehow, he needs to explain himself and promote his hardcore feminism. Well, do you? Why? Those are so MANY words to replace “I did not rape anyone.” So many. “I have daughters, I have a wife, I have sisters…..” He talks about himself and his life and how it affected him and then gives a rehearsed speech about minorities. I’m waiting for him to say “I’m all about intersectional feminism.” Me me me. Dude, enough.
I wonder if there’s a guy who could convince me that he didn’t do it. If the system were less cruel on women and victism in general, maybe I’d have an easier time believing a man for once in this scenario. It’s such a disgusting byproduct of the whole issue.
And of course, the ole’ “I’m not going to relive that time….” of course. Because his saying it is so different than any other probably guilty party who avoids uncomfortable “reliving” .
@littelmissynaughty x1000000
If he truly feels the victim was lying (because he knows she was wide awake during their sexy times) then there is no reason for him to feel sympathy or empathy, for someone who is lying and inadvertently trying to ruin his life. (NOT familiar with the case.)
Weird that one was innocent one not? What does the judge think, Parker had consensual sex and then the other man raped her while she was asleep/passed out? I guess that must be what is thought. Anyways I will read about it
Fiorella, from what I’ve read about the case it sounds like Parker’s acquittal was classic jury nullification. The woman was too drunk to consent, but the jury ignored that because she’d previously consented to sexual contact with Parker. Celestin was convicted because she had not previously consented to sex with him.
If you’re familiar with rape prosecutions and rape culture, it’s basically impossible to believe that Parker didn’t rape her. Of course he did, he just doesn’t see it as rape because that’s what rape culture has taught him. She’d consented before, she hung out with him, got drunk, when he initiated she didn’t try to fight him off. He shows no remorse because he has none.
He was actually cheating on his girlfriend/future wife when he raped the victim. He has expressed remorse for the cheating.
Thank you for you’re response bob. ThAt is very upsetting that he may have raped her but consider it was acceptable due to rape culture. I was thinking, if he knew he raped her but obviously doesn’t want to Admit it, he has to keep the story like she is a liar. So we shouldn’t expect him to admit any remorse without confessing. I still haven’t read the case, maybe later tonight though. Any articles you recommend, let me know please 🙂
That’s….extremely disappointing. I had never heard of any of this before, and I thought he was great in Beyond the Lights and was really looking forward to Birth of a Nation, but… *sigh*
“My gut says to believe the victim. My gut says that back in 1999, it was even more difficult to bring rape charges against men, so for the men to go to trial (and for one of those men to be convicted), the prosecution had a solid case.”
exactly. like Jessica Valenti said: i believe women.
And he was found not guiltily only because he had sex with the woman before that incident. That’s the only reason his friend was convicted and not him. Which makes mad, like if a woman gave approval once does it mean approval forever?
And he’s also homophobic, I really liked him before reading about him yesterday.
That’s one of the things I couldn’t understand – how could one man have been found guilt and the other one been cleared of all charges? But then I read, about the “night before”. So yeah, because she slept with him the night before, she must have wanted it the second time around as well.
Ask any women who has been raped by her husband… oh wait… no rape there, because MARRIAGE, right? This means lifelong consent – no matter what. And if your boyfriend/husband or even ONS brings a second guy into the “game”, you have to be ok with that as well.
Thank you for the explanation, I was wondering why the two men were treated differently. How awful. I feel so bad for the victim, especially now that he is going to be front and center for this movie.
It baffles me that consent is such a convoluted thing for so many.
I don’t get what is unclear for so many – if you say yes and you’re sober it means yes. If you say no, it means no under any circumstances. If you’re so smashed, you’re passed out or unable to communicate, it means no. Yet, for a lot of people, that might mean yes? In what language, what culture does inability to base function equate to a possible yes?
Show this video to your friends, your sons and your daughters, just so they get it straight:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQbei5JGiT8
Does he talk about how he stalked the victim for months afterwards? So much so that she tried to commit suicide twice and dropped out of college? I’m guessing not, since everyone at Penn State at the time knew what was happening. There’s a reason the school ended up settling with the victim.
Jesus. I want to take a moment to send all my kudos and support to this woman, wherever she is.
Update: the victim, Julia Parker, eventually committed suicide in 2012. She finally succumbed to the demons that haunted her for so many years… RIP Julia
That is so tragic.
Omg. Horrific. I was inclined to agree with KHLBHL above that all his words about this ring a bit hollow, not much remorse or thoughtfulness reflected at all. Now I definitely agree. I hope the questions don’t let up.
Yeah this was brought up in the last thread about him. It’s really terrible, what he and his friend did.
The fact that an independent women’s right group was willing to sue the school over the mistreatment of the case on behalf of the victim is VERY telling to me. This whole thing just makes me ill.
Yes! I want interviewers to ask him about that.
I’d like some clear concise questions regarding his confusion about consent. He never once even hinted about her inability to consent b/c she was drunk/passed out. He can cite all the women in his life and support all the “groups” he wants, but what does any of that have to do with the crime he was charged with? Do people like him really think we’re such pushovers that we don’t see his citing of important females in his life and supporting advocacy groups as a smoke screen after the fact? Was he involved with these groups before he was charged with rape? No? I didn’t think so.
Update: the victim, Julia Parker, eventually committed suicide in 2012. She finally succumbed to the demons that haunted her for so many years… RIP Julia
She has the same last name as he does???
Can we have a link please? I don’t see anything confirming this in a google search.
Here you go Bonzo, not exactly obscure:
http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/08/nate-parker-rape-charge-victim-suicide
Did you know her? If so, I’d like to talk to you
I read about his stalking her, too. No forgiveness for this man, and so no intention whatsoever to see this rapist’s movie. Amazed that anyone can see his “side” in all of this or look for one.
I wanted to keep an open mind, but…damn. I can only vote with my wallet and my lone voice and nothing in this world could get me to watch his movie. Absolutely nothing. I want more opportunities in the movie industry for people of color but not if they are rapists.
‘I love women! I know lots of them. Here are my daughters, look there’s my mother. Hey let’s call my aunt!’
Yep!
Yep – this is exactly how I read that, too. 100%. “Hey, look this way, all these women love me!”
Yep. My cynical black heart noticed that too. I can’t know for sure but after reading everything I can about this case, I 100 percent believe the woman. And all I can think about is how painful this must be for her to see him celebrated, or about to be.
She doesn’t see him being celebrated. She killed herself.
Yeah he really should get a publicist who would have stopped him from saying all that. Terrible.
Ironically, he probably has one who told him to say it. Emphasize that you are a husband and a father. A father to DAUGHTERS. Lots of them. And that your mother lives with you. Because the woman who accused you can’t tell her side, she’s dead. We will control this narrative.
That’s very basic! It’s like a tactic that might work 30 years Ago. Too simple. Anyways, not that I want him to get awAy with anything but he sounds ridiculous
This is awkward. We are living in such a racist society right now and it feels very WRONG to turn on him, especially with #oscarssowhite. That being said, I know how I felt when I heard of John Hamm and his horrific behavior in college…granted I have a natural bias against entitled white frat boys…ugh. And while my gut says this will hurt his career, I look at Roman Polansky, Woody Allen and shudder. Granted they are older white men.
Ugh. Awkward.
Nate Parker may not have been an entitled white frat boy, but he was an important athlete at Penn State (you know, that lovely school that covered up sexual abuse against young boys for decades). So he had basically the same entitlement.
Entitled frat boys come in all races.
Sorry but OscarsSoWhite or not, I cannot get behind him and his cowriter. There was an awful lot of “technicalities” that got them off and their behaviour of trying to stalk and intimidate the victim is inexcusable.
You don’t have to support him either. This year will see Denzel Washington’s Fences (and hopefully an Oscar for Viola Davis), Ruth Negga, David Oyelowo, I’ll be in line when anything Ryan Cooglar directs comes out. The African American community has better people to represent them.
Oh and before anyone goes there, Polanski and Allen don’t get a cent of my support. They haven’t for years.
hear hear!!
We’re not “turning on him”. These were allegations (and facts!) that were around even before he made “Birth of a Nation”. Back when he was acting. Back when “Beyond the Lights” came out.
Like I said above, there are other phenomenal POC actors, writers, directors to celebrate and promote this year and every year. We should not waste our energies on a man who doesn’t necessarily deserve praise or recognition, particularly for his questionable character.
There’s Amma Asante’s “A United Kingdom,” featuring David Oyelowo.
There’s “Loving,” featuring Ruth Negga.
There’s Ang Lee’s “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.”
There’s Martin Scorsese’s “Silence” which takes place in Japan and features Japanese actors like Tadanobu Asano.
There’s Will Smith in “Collateral Beauty”.
There’s Oscar Isaac in “The Promise.”
Gugu Mbatha-Raw in “Miss Sloane.”
There’s Dev Patel in “Lion.”
There’s the entire, luminous, breathtaking cast (and director) of “Moonlight” (Naomie Harris, Mahershala Ali, Janelle Monae, etc. etc.)
What about Denzel Washington (and Viola Davis) in “Fences” and maaaybe “The Magnificent Seven” (directed by Antoine Fuqua)? Denzel directed and starred in “Fences,” the stage version of which got him a Tony Award.
Viola Davis has a Harriet Tubman project coming out this year as well.
And “Queen of Katwe,” directed by Mira Nair and starring Lupita Nyong’o.
And as I wrote this, the trailer for “Hidden Figures” was released. Starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Aldis Hodge, Mahershala Ali. It’ll be out January 2017 but that’s probably because the studio will have a limited release in 2016 in time for Oscar contention.
So much excellence. Why do we POC have to settle for a potential rapist and proven bully as an Oscar nominee?
great post, khlbhl. i’m looking forward to so many of these movies!
Thanks so much for this great list!
Thank you so much for this post! I’m updating my “Watch List” with a few titles and sharing it with a few of my friends. Hidden Figures looks very promising as does Moonlight. My sister shared the Loving trailer with me recently.
Awesome post.
I was super excited to see the Hidden Figures trailer, I hadn’t heard anything about it, but it looks like the type of movie I always wish there were more of.
I also thank you for this list, a lot of stuff I wasn’t aware of & will now check out. Appreciate you taking the time to list them, KHLBHL
Just saw the trailer for Hidden Figures” and it looks really good. Janelle Monae, and Mahershala Ali are going to very busy with promoting Moonlight as well.
As I said below “Moonlight” looks amazing
A friend on twitter already started with conspiracy theories, how “they” are trying to do him like bill Cosby. And the media likes ruining black men, blah blah blah. It made me mad!
As if Cosby and Nate Parker didn’t do it to themselves.
He is giving the ‘i have X friends/relations etc therefore i am not/ it excuses me from ever committing x type of transgression’ or what politicians do where they parade their families/wife when they’ve been caught cheating.
Secondly, this is all about him. No acknowledgement that this incident happened beyond how it affected/affects him, and anyway he has lots of *females in his life …do you see all these females in his life? Look females!!!! And also something about LGBT community and black community, but most importantly me me me me and look females!!!
Yep. Nobody needs to bother reading the full interview. It’s summarized quite nicely in your comment here, LAK.
Well, if he cared about how this affected the woman in question we probably wouldn’t be having this conversation in the first place. So no shock there.
I like him as an actor but had no idea of his back history. No longer a fan. I was looking for a “I did not do it and I have nothing but sympathy for The lady who eventually committed suicide”. The details of the victims double rape and rocky life afterwards are heartbreaking. He is officially dead to me.
I am not defending him at all.
But can he admit to his wrongdoing if he has been cleared of charges? Wouldn’t he be charged again? My hope is that he knows what he did is heinous and he is trying to make up for it by being good to the women in his life now and trying to make an impact. He would have to be very delicate in saying ‘because I was part of this, I want to speak about women’s safety and consent’ to avoid further prosecution.
Could he (or anyone in this situation) try to make up for a wrong they haven’t admitted to by being a better person to the victimized group in the long run? He can’t apologize to her since she is deceased, but he could try to make an impact going forward.
I don’t know of him (I don’t really watch movies) and there I strongly believe that anything other than explicit consent is no, so I am thinking out loud.
No, he can’t admit to wrongdoing at this point, but only because he’s still looking out for his own livelihood. You’re right, if he apologizes, he’d basically be admitting that he did in fact rape her, so he’s not going to do that. If he weren’t being self-serving, he could admit responsibility, but he’s not going to do that and risk his new nice guy reputation.
You don’t make up for a wrong by becoming someone new while still denying the wrong you did. You can admit you did wrong and then try to become a better person, but that’s an entirely different path than continuing to deny accountability but going on to be a better person. Avoiding accountability negates any good deeds after. Good deeds after in this case are deceptive IMO. And his victim committing suicide – her no longer being here to apologize to, doesn’t mean he couldn’t still apologize to her family and friends and even her, in the afterlife. But he’s not going to do that because he refuses to admit accountability – that he is in fact, a rapist. If he admitted it, I might be able to see him as a recovering rapist, but that’s not the case here. He denies wrong-doing. He got away with a crime. The victim killed herself and he is to blame. Nothing he does afterward can make up for it. The fact that he couldn’t just live a quiet modest life doesn’t bode well either. He could have moved and laid low, but no, he’s going for the big money and fame and now that his sordid past is being brought up again, he’s continuing to deny accountability. He also conveniently omits anything about his stalking her afterward, bullying her until she ultimately took her own life. I don’t see his attempt to make in impact going forward as anything other than self-serving. I certainly don’t believe it’s because he’s actually a better person now – smarter maybe, more careful and not quick to do anything that could undermine his professional success, but that’s learned behavior for having been caught before. That’s not actual repentance. Repentance must include admission and holding one’s self accountable.
thanks for the thoughtful response @JenniferJustice. I appreciate what you had to say. I didn’t realize the two accused had stalked her afterwards until reading some posts, which is horrific. I was 16 when the same thing happened to me, and I had no idea how to cope with the stalking. I hope the dialogue continues, we’ve seen too many rapists get off with very light consequences.
Thank you @JenniferJustice I so appreciate all you have shared here. It’s horrific to imagine what she went through and then the bullying afterwards, to the point that she took her own life. Being alone to that level can take a person there, being misbelieved or blamed even for what happened. My heart goes out to that poor woman.
The only thing missing from the statement is crediting religion for changing his ways.
Here ya go, from an interview he did in 2007:
“Mama, some stuff that’s going to come out in the papers is really going to hurt you,” she remembers Parker saying that day in 1999. “I want you to know from my soul, I swear to you it’s not true.”
In October of that year, just before Parker’s sophomore season, he and a teammate were charged with rape and sexual assault of an 18-year-old Penn State student.
“It was one of the most challenging moments of our lives,” Whitfield said. “I stayed on my knees, praying and staying close to him. I wanted him to turn to God.”
Parker did.
A night of drinking and promiscuity had led to that terrible accusation – the woman claiming she had passed out and had not consented to sex with Parker and his teammate.
“Even though he didn’t rape her, he chose to be with her without even really knowing her,” his mom said. “So he needed to repent. And he did. We all prayed together as a family.”
Said Parker: “Something like that turns you into a man real fast. It teaches you the world doesn’t owe you anything.”
http://pilotonline.com/sports/from-hampton-roads-to-hollywood/article_bdab78eb-a3a5-5e89-bab3-6365d54c964c.html
Haha bless you Bob for digging that one up. I knew it had to be used somewhere.
So mother thought he should repent for having casual sex? I call BS! Mother knows her son is a rapist. And it doesn’t turn you into a man real fast. It does, however, humble you and make cause for change if only to protect yourself from getting in trouble in the future. That’s not being a man. That’s just learning cause and effect. Toddlers understand cause and effect. Heck, mice learn cause & effect in mazes with treats. Does that mean toddlers and mice have become men once they learn there are consequences to certain behavior?
This is disgusting. I feel so bad for his victim 🙁
He doesn’t actually say he didn’t do it. He just says he was cleared of the charges, which is not remotely the same thing as saying you’re innocent. He then just unloads a bunch of ‘I know lots of women’ crap (rapists have mothers and sisters and daughters, pointing out you have women in your life is like a burglar saying ‘I couldn’t have done it, I have people in my life who own things’) and tries to not so subtly tie the injustice in his film and history to that time in his life.
His collaborator was found guilty, and whether the rape happened or not (and reading the court docs it definitely seems something terrible happened to the woman in question), there is extremely compelling evidence that both Nate and Jean harassed and stalked the woman in a really intensely threatening way. Not just inappropriately tried to talk to her and demand answers, but really actively made her feel unsafe so she would withdraw her claims.
The more I’ve looked into the case, the more I’m convinced he’s entirely guilty. His choice of language here actually solidifies that further for me.
Deadline’s article is thought-provoking, as are the comments, but the headline is “sex case”–not “rape case,” which is the accurate term for his actions.
He doesn’t deny having sex with her, but says it was consensual. Also consensual with the other guy, because we all “know” that women like threesomes, especially if one is a stranger to her. There was another man who saw them with the semi-conscious or unconscious woman, and was invited by them to join; he was disgusted and walked away (he should have stopped it as a bystander, of course).
What bothers me most is his sense that this is something that “happened” to HIM. He doesn’t seem to accept it as something HE DID. Nor does he seem to accept responsibility for stalking her later and driving her from school.
I do believe there is redemption, but you have to accept your own responsibility first and try to make amends if possible; being sorry doesn’t mean being sorry you got caught.
Abigail you have just been introduced to classic sociopath-speak. Welcome to the ugly world.
So frustrating for the woman. I just read John Krakauer’s book “Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a Small Town.” It discusses the issues that women have just reporting the rape, never mind the trial after. It really opened my eyes about how hard it is to press charges for rape and then to be told that the rapist was “A good man otherwise, so we don’t’ want to derail his bright future.” Never mind the fact that the victim has lasting repercussions.
The more we start talking about this and raising our discontent, and not letting the rapist get a pass maybe, it will make a difference…
I thought of that book. People should listen to the NPR interview he did back when the book was released.
The award winning documentary film maker, Kirby Dick made a film about campus rape: The Hunting Ground. He previously made the documentary Silent War about rape in the military. As he was showing that documentary on college campuses, young women approached him, telling him similar things (the code of silence, circling the wagons) were happening in their environment. He was actually in pre-production to make a different documentary, but ditched it to follow-up with their story.
Krakauer is such a good writer. Oh man, so many books, so little time!!!
Reading the transcript of the phone call between Parker and the victim it’s obvious she was not able to give consent. It’s really scary. And he’s pretty much blaming her.
Which is the best article about this? If you happen to know…
Yeah, not that I’m eager to read this… but having links on hand to share would be nice (if public). Googling only turns up hits of recent interviews – I’m still wading through them.
I don’t think he will win he’ll get nominated & because there is another POC movie that now getting lot of buzz Moonlight produced by Plan B (Brad Pitt production company)
What are you saying? More than one poc film can generate buzz or get nominated. It doesn’t have to be one or the other.
Whoever this woman is, I hope and pray that she has been able to pick up the pieces of her life and be happy. As for Nate and Jean, welcome to Hollywood. It was made for men like you. Enjoy the company of Woody and Roman, and all the countless other assh*les who rape and abuse women. You may be talented and you may be gorgeous, but WE SEE YOU.
Sad to say, the victim, Julia Parker, eventually committed suicide in 2012. She finally succumbed to the demons that haunted her for so many years… RIP Julia
Links please. I see nothing on the web that confirms this via a legitimate news source.
Nice try. I’m not watching this movie.
I suspect he’s pretty vile. This interview reinforces my impression. He’s placing himself on a pedestal, and what with homophobic remarks I think he has a warped vision of masculinity.
I red elsewhere that because she and Partner had had prior relationship and she did not want to testify again on other trial that he was found not guilty. But I am not sure.
Ridiculous he had his 6-year old daughter present on the Variety interview, did he want to avoid difficult questions like that?
His comments clear up any doubt I previously had. He did it. I’m disgusted, disappointed and my heart goes out to the woman he raped. Wishing her continued healing.
The weird part is, apparently one of the most powerful parts of ‘Birth’ is how he handled the rape of Gabrielle Union’s character. Talk about cognitive dissonance.
That is odd! Maybe that means he feels a lot of guilt about it? Not enough to confess and go to jail but still, some honest empathy? Or maybe he is in a creepy way using his victims experience for his art?
It’s especially ironic given that Gabrielle is a survivor of sexual assault herself.
YUP
Allow me to point you to Loving, Oscar voters. It looks so amazing and Ruth Negga is awesome.
This guy? I got nothing. The movie is probably really good, but him, not-so-much. Of course, they’ve been ignoring Woody Allen and Roman Polanski’s issues for years, so why should he be any different? Actors who are terrible people have won Oscars too. It’s hard to say what they will do.
Sorry to the victim here because she will get dragged into this and have to re-live it again because he made a movie.
What homophobic comments did he make?
Parker made comments about not being willing to play gay roles and that he was sick of black men being “emasculated” in film. He obviously has a very warped view of masculinity.
Parker shouldn’t have done this interview. He comes off bad in it.
He’s doing verbal gymnastics to make himself seem less guilty of raping a woman. Yeah, that’ll make a man come off bad.
Count me in as another woman here who was at Penn State at the same time as Nate Parker. And I had friends on the wrestling team. I was also in a sorority and extremely familiar with the culture at Penn State during this time period. Let me just make this clear….if you weren’t there? And unless you went to another Big Ten kind of school during this era? You cannot imagine the kind of rape culture that took place at this school. When I think back on it now…think back on the way men treated us and how often women passed out and were taken advantage of…I feel sick. It happened to me too. I went on a date with someone who was supposed to be a friend and woke up with him on top of me after the hayride. The athletes were KNOWN for this kind of behavior and they would have been protected. It is well known that these guys were stalking this girl. It’s just that you have to understand that back then…..we really didn’t know how to report rape or speak up about rape. It was the era before iphones, before smart phones…it was a different time. He did it.
Goddamn it. Every time a story like this one appears, so so many women raise their hands and say “Oh yeah, happened to me too.” I’m so sorry. I’m slowly realizing (yes, it takes a while) just how lucky I have been so far. Nothing like this ever happened to me, not even close. And I know women often ask “Why me?” At this point it seems more like “How did I escape this so far?” It sounds terrible to put it this way but the numbers really speak for themselves.
Jesus. That is so awful. I’m so sorry you had to go through that and I’m disgusted and horrified that the university officials essentially condoned and or/promoted this kind of behavior.
Thank you. To be honest, I was one of the lucky ones. I woke up before it progressed to intercourse. He had his hand inside of me when I woke up. But it was terrifying. The guy called me for weeks afterwards and I never returned his calls. He then stalked my friends as to why I wasn’t calling him back. I was very young and I didn’t even realize that I should have said something. The culture was just so accepting of this kind of thing. The athletes were protected. The frat boys were protected. There was so such thing as “rape culture” then. Not at Penn state. It’s hard for me to think back on it because the very thought of my niece or another young woman I love going to that school makes my stomach turn. I want to believe things have changed and we have no awareness now but I just don’t know. I had a close friend who had a boyfriend on the wrestling team which is why I know all about Parker. The entire team was bad news. They were all violent and were known for aggressive behavior with women.
Kathleen, that is horrific, I am so sorry.
I wish people understood this is a fucking movie, that is all, not the cure to cancer, we’re not talking about world peace either.
In the end, a movie is not worth the glorification of a rapist( nothing is). There are so many great movies done and that will be done, no one should be forgiven for such disgusting, inhuman behavior.
Yeah, I went to a Big 10 school in the 80s and it was just as you describe. Funny how they would warn us women about not walking alone in isolated parts of campus alone when the biggest threats were inside the fraternity houses and among the highly revered athletes.
It was scary and I know I’m lucky to have gotten through it unscathed — although barely — and one of the main reasons I have vowed that my sons won’t go anywhere near any fraternities when they’re in college and that hopefully they won’t choose a Big 10 (or similar type) school.
” But I also think that it should mean something that Parker was not convicted”.. I beg to differ:
not being convicted doesn’t mean anything. just last week a rapist was let go “don’t spoil his life”. not to forget countless light sentences. These days a 25 minutes rape will ‘cost” a rapist 6 months in jail. 45 minutes barely 9 months.. more cases are thrown out and the victims are violented twice as much if not more when the justice let them go.
http://www.wtae(dot)com/Women-s-Rights-Group-Filed-Rape-Lawsuit-Against-Penn-State-In-02/7705896 i get this was a long time ago and people make big mistakes in life. we are not always our past. the thing is, he talks about how hard the rape was for him. there is no mention of the victim and what she went through. his privilege as an athlete allowed him to not have repercussions. this is just a quick link to a news article, but interesting info. it does mention the hell they put her through. this was a real thing that even the school had to settle and then set up a special committee. i think if he addressed this and not down play like he was the victim then it would make me see that he has taken accountability for his past, but that he has actually become a different person.
You know, all these comments are reminding me of the recent news about Mark Wahlberg and the violent racist attacks he engaged in as a young man in Boston. What I see is the similarity of the statements both men made/are making at critical points in their careers at a moment when they each have needed to push forward their newest ventures (in Mark’s case, restaurants he wanted to open in the area; in Nate’s case, his new film). No denials or remorse or focus on the victims; all focus is on them, their rehab and/or portraying them in their “growth process” as victim. Words very similar…
I really wanted to see this film. There are times, like right now, when I really hate men.
Me too. I’m really disappointed 🙁
Yeah. And on a “good day”, I just want to avoid them altogether. This CB post is not making for a good day
I talked about this when the movie was first bought at sundance. Am I excited this movie was picked up? Yes. But does that excuse Nate Parker? No. I don’t watch Woody Allen movies so I won’t be paying to watch this either. It sucks because on the one hand its “yay unprecedented support for a POC movie” but I cannot look the other way on this one.
I believe women. And considering the case (I read up on it during sundance) and the fact he was an athlete I doubt he was acquitted because he was innocent. Heck we aren’t good at prosecuting rape cases NOW so I doubt the 90s were any better
He’s a rapist plain and simple the fact that he’s black does not mean we should support him in any way.
KHLBHL above gave a list of projects made by, directed by, or acted by POC.
Amma Asante’s “A United Kingdom,” featuring David Oyelowo.
“Loving,” featuring Ruth Negga.
Ang Lee’s “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk.”
Martin Scorsese’s “Silence” which takes place in Japan and features Japanese actors like Tadanobu Asano.
Will Smith in “Collateral Beauty”.
Oscar Isaac in “The Promise.”
Gugu Mbatha-Raw in “Miss Sloane.”
Dev Patel in “Lion.”
The entire, luminous, breathtaking cast (and director) of “Moonlight” (Naomie Harris, Mahershala Ali, Janelle Monae, etc. etc.
Denzel Washington (and Viola Davis) in “Fences” and maaaybe “The Magnificent Seven” (directed by Antoine Fuqua)? Denzel directed and starred in “Fences,” the stage version of which got him a Tony Award.
Viola Davis has a Harriet Tubman project coming out this year as well.
And “Queen of Katwe,” directed by Mira Nair and starring Lupita Nyong’o.
“Hidden Figures” was released. Starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Aldis Hodge, Mahershala Ali. It’ll be out January 2017 but that’s probably because the studio will have a limited release in 2016 in time for Oscar contention.
I’ve seen the trailer for Moonlight and it looks fantastic and is already getting great Buzz.
That’s exactly it. But because he is a POC people WILL attempt to look the other way. I am not one of them.
Moonlight does look great I just saw the trailer myself this morning
This is a great list – thank you! I’ll have to keep an eye on these movies. Glad to see Mahershala Ali working steadily.
I couldn’t agree with you and KHLBHL more. Looking forward to checking out all of the films on that list.
I might add “Arrival” (originally “Story of Your Life” to this list. The film stars Amy Adams (not a woc but nice to see a woman over 40 in there) but the writer of the story is Ted Chiang. He’s a famous Chinese writer. Movie also stars Forrest Whittaker.
I too am looking forward to working my way through this list from KHLBHL. I had Loving on my radar, but that’s it.
Thank you for this @Flowerchild !!!
And on a side note: Mahershala Ali Mahershala Ali Mahershala Ali !!! (((swoon)))
So basically, Nate has no remorse for his actions, only sorry that he got caught. He demonstrates no concern for the way his actions destroyed a woman’s life.
I can only hope that the conversations about rape culture, the protection of star athletes and Nate’s remorselessness continue all through awards season and get louder as he is nominated for or awarded anything. There are enough talented POC out there making great art to give our financial support to.
I hope the survivor was able to get the support she needed afterwards to be able to see this horrible crime as something that she was NOT responsible for. I’d be even happier for her to share her side of the story so we’re not just getting his deflective word salad. She deserves to be heard.
+1000
Sorry to report, the victim, Julia Parker, eventually committed suicide in 2012. She finally succumbed to the demons that haunted her for so many years… RIP Julia
Can you show me a link that verifies this? There is nothing that comes up in a google search that identifies Nate Parker’s victim as “Julia Parker”.
Thank you for writing about this. This is what elevates this outlet from all the other gossip outlets.
Welcome to Hollywood!
– Love Roman Polanski and Woody Allan
So true !
I can’t describe how disappointed I am that such an important story was filmed by such a despicable person. I wanted to support it, but don’t see how I can now. If Parker’s award chances are affected, well, he’s brought it on himself.
Realistically he’s not going to admit to rape, be happy he got away with it and do a dance. You can only nail a person to a cross once. Perhaps the legacy of justice he speaks of, is his road to atonement.
See, I think I read it the same way. He doesn’t want to admit he did it, for legal and career reasons, so he basically talks about how painful it was for everyone (implying the victim too) and lists everything he is doing now, not to make himself look awesome, but to imply that he is atoning for what we all know he did. And his discussion of how good it is we are teaching men about this issue now. His behavior at time was awful and shows no remorse, but I do get the sense now that he is remorseful, knows it was wrong, but not sorry enough to actually apologize to the victim directly and suffer the consequences.
Wow I that was a whole lot of verbal gymnastics to avoid saying “I didn’t rape her”. He really pulled out all of the ” I have a black, gay, woman etc friend, so see , I can’t be a racist, homophobe, rapist etc” stops didn’t he? Considering what Penn state covered up for many years, I don’t doubt that this man enjoyed similar a lack of accountability for his actions as well. I also think Penn state should have had their football program permanently dismantled, but that’s a whole other conversation
I love how he piles up the women in his life like their purpose is to be a shield for him. I’m surprised he didn’t mention the female animals in his household. “I have a female parakeet,” says Nate Parker, who is definitely not a rapist. How could a rapist have a wife, daughters, sisters, a female parakeet!
Word! “a shield”…this rings true on so many levels esp re: BM and BW… 🙁 smh
I’ve never heard of him before, but what a gorgeous man, and what a beautiful statement. Whatever happened in his case (I have not read it), he seems to have grown into a loving, productive, empathetic, and intelligent person. Hopefully the woman has been able to heal and grow into a beautiful person as well.
Empathetic? It is all about him
he would sound a lot more of an empathetic, loving, productive and intelligent person if he came out and said he realized his actions were wrong. if he admitted he hurt the woman and has learned and grown from the experience to have respect and a duty to protect women, then i would think his statement had some merit.
that woman probably will have lifelong emotional scars from the experience and suicide attempts. her treatment and harassment by him was horrific.
he never addressed the pain and misery he caused and being beautiful to look at will never change or excuse his actions.
So basically what you are saying is that you are completely ignorant to the case and choose not to educate yourself so you can live in your rose colored world of this loving, productive, empathetic, man.
😱😫😫😫😤
No, what I am saying is that I took five minutes to read an article, leave my fleeting impressions, and then I continue to live in a world where this man has as much of an effect as he had on me before: zero. Why would I read a rape case when I have been raped many times myself? Very triggering.
Wow. Never heard of him but from a few interview blurbs you can determine his real and beautiful self? Okay. And never read about the case but that doesn’t matter. Okay. If only everyone had those observational powers.
Anyone with eyes can see he is beautiful. No reading required.
Actually she killed herself
he talks about how painful it was for him, imagine how painful it must have been for the victim, but he never mentions that. he talks about how important women are in his life now, but back then they werent? he still had a mom and four younger sisters back then, that didnt faze him at all? im not buying it, but i already disliked him.
He doesn’t deny,doesn’t feel sorry for the victim.
So many words to not deny !!
Sorry, but I dislike him already and his face and film haven’t even made it’s way to the UK yet.
My advice to him/his film company is – don’t bother coming across the pond.
Love your statement Red. Yes it was seventeen years ago and based on his life now has grown into a productive and thoughtful man. Everyone deserves a second chance. If I get the opportunity I will see the movie.
Wait what????? I just can’t with this comment.😱😱
Yes whiny arrest rapist they deserve a second chance😩😩😩😩
Tell that to Kathleen above or any other person I has been rape.
Time does not diminish the severity or damage of a crime like rape. Doesn’t matter if it was 7 months or 17 years.
of course you would love that statement, it’s pretty much the same as your. a thoughtful man would apologize to the woman he abused and stalked. he would say the experience taught him that he needed to address his behaviour and treat women with respect.
a man can be productive and still be a lowlife, raping jerk.
17 years will not have erased the damage he has caused.
I don’t think it matters whether it’s 17 years or 7 days. One hopes for a criminal justice system that either rehabilitates people into functional members of society or discards those who have lost their humanity. Instead many people have secretly done terrible things that are never found out. Many awful people are caught, punished, or killed. Many misguided people are worsened by the system and turned into terrible people. Some emerge better. Whatever has happened in his life, he seems to have done the work on himself.
If someone is not willing to be accountable for their actions then they have not rehabilitated. Simple as.
He wouldn’t admit to rape then because he would have gone to prison. He won’t admit to rape now because it might harm his career. So he wasn’t willing to hold himself accountable then and neither is he willing to hold himself accountable now.
This is why convicted prisoners who maintain their innocence do not get parole. To get parole, you have to hold yourself accountable for your actions.
This guy is just saying, “Look at me, look at me. I’m a good guy now… but I still won’t admit to anything I did before I magically became a good guy, so you’ll just have to take me at my word.”
@Red
Just because he says he’s a good person doesn’t make it fact. What has he done makes you think he’s done the work on his self. Please done feed us BS so you can go and watch his movie with a clear consensus because you seem to be trying to convince yourself that he a “good”person now.
According to a poster below the women he and his friend RAPE and taunted after the fact is now dead because she couldn’t handle what they did to her. Now tell me what a “good” person he is.
@Red
Just because he says he’s a good person doesn’t make it fact. What has he done makes you think he’s done the work on his self???? Please done feed us BS so you can go and watch his movie with a clear consensus because you seem to be trying to convince yourself that he a “good”person now.
According to a poster below the women he and his friend RAPE and taunted after the fact is now dead because she couldn’t handle what they did to her. Now tell me what a “good” person he is..
Just because he made a carefully worded statement surrounded by all the woman he knows in his life that he could round up that day for PR duty doesn’t make him a good person. Actions speak louder than words.
The woman who was allegedly raped by Parker and his friend committed suicide because of what happened in this case, and her subsequent treatment after their acquittals.
Surely as a rape survivor you would understand what it must be like for society not to stand with the accuser, and what torture it must be like to deal with that kind of physical and emotional trauma for the rest of your life.
@ Red: I mentioned seventeen year’s because it gives some perspective on his life and how far he has come since the incident and how much he has changed the course of his life. Otherwise I agree with your response.
The point isn’t that seventeen years diminishes the severity of the crime it is that at some point somebody who has made a mistake has a right to a second chance that’s how society was built, to afford some who has made mistakes the chance to learn and do better. It doesn’t always work but sometimes it does and his case it did.
Raping someone is NOT A F*CKING mastake and how dare you diminish the victims of rape by claiming it is. Your whole comment is disgusting.
How do you know it did? Who do you know there are not other victims??
Learn to spell and form a proper sentence before you call someone disgusting. Resorting to name calling gives no credence to your arguments.
I would also be prepared to give even a rapist a second chance.
Indeed, it’s true to say that reformed characters can sometimes make powerful advocates for change and help in a prevention effort.
However, in order for that to happen, the rapist would have to at least acknowledge that he is a rapist, the damage his being a rapist has done to others, and that he understands exactly what constitutes rape and how and why rape is wrong. As I said above, this guy refused to acknowledge it then cos prison and also refuses to acknowledge it now cos career.
Until he can acknowledge what he did and why it was wrong, he will never truly do better.
All he will do is flood the airwaves with kumbaya word salads that, in effect, eschew personal responsibility for the intense harm he caused to another human being.
@Sixer “kumbaya word salads” #classic thank you for this!
From Deadline article where this is taken from records ” At trial, a third man, Tamerlane Kangas, testified that Parker waved him and Celestin to join him when they spied Parker and the woman having sex in the bedroom. While Celestin accepted the invitation, Kangas declined, and left the apartment. He was not charged with any crime. “I didn’t believe that four people at one time was — you know, it didn’t seem right,” he testified.”
This is so ugly.
Wow, and they were both acquitted. Jesus.
Well, he’s very smart to face this head on now. It’s a tough one. Who knows what really happened that night? It doesn’t sound good though. 😞 If they really did rape this woman, I feel for her so much. He might be utterly disgusted by his past behavior now, but it doesn’t erase it for her.
Read another article about this. In the comments someone identified themselves as her brother. He said her life was ruined and she couldn’t handle the after effects and took her own life. Very sad.
This will not be swept under the rug snd rightfully so.
That’s so sad and it makes the to posters above comment even more revolting.
I was torn about boycotting the film, given its important subject matter. This did me in. Boycotted.
Woody Allen seems to be doing just fine as a calculated semi-incestuous pedophile…he gets boatloads of support and has for years. It’s disgusting but no one seems to be too bothered by that fact
No one ever is…except those who have experienced it or watched others suffer. Men (and even some women) like this continue to prey because they have the power.
You guys, he has “Binders full of women”, he can’t possibly be a rapist. Also, since Mark Wahlberg only assaulted ONE Asian man while using derogatory terms, he’s not a violent racist, either.