Nate Parker, the director and star of hit movie The Birth of a Nation, has written an emotional post after finding out a woman who accused him of raping her actually committed suicide in 2012.
Parker was charged and later acquitted of raping an 18-year-old woman while he was a student and wrestler at Penn State in 1999.
Charged along with his roommate Jean Celestin (who allegedly raped the woman with Parker and is a co-writer Birth of a Nation), Parker claimed the sex was consensual, while the woman insisted she was unconscious during the encounter. She said she was also stalked and harassed by both men after she reported the assault. Parker and Celestin were suspended from the wrestling team, and Parker transferred to an Oklahoma college.
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As noted, a jury eventually acquitted Parker of the charges, partially because he and the alleged victim had consensual sex before the purported rape. Celestin was found guilty of sexual assault, and was sentenced to six months in jail. Celestin appealed the verdict and was granted a new trial, but the case never began because the victim didn’t want to testify further.
Now, the accuser’s brother (who, along with the victim, remains anonymous) has spoken out about his sister, and has revealed additional details about the case.
“She was afraid for her life,” he said to Variety. He confirmed that his sister took her own life in 2012 by overdosing on sleeping pills.
“She became detached from reality,” the woman’s brother said. “The progression was very quick and she took her life.”
While there is no actual proof that she committed suicide because of the trial and the encounter, her brother thinks Birth of a Nation shouldn’t be so celebrated.
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Fox Searchlight, the studio behind the movie, made a statement last week: “Fox Searchlight is aware of the incident that occurred while Nate Parker was at Penn State. We also know that he was found innocent and cleared of all charges. We stand behind Nate and are proud to help bring this important and powerful story to the screen.”
Parker posted a lengthy, emotional Facebook post upon hearing the news that his rape accuser committed suicide.
“Over the last several days, a part of my past — my arrest, trial and acquittal on charges of sexual assault — has become a focal point for media coverage, social media speculation and industry conversation,” he wrote. “I understand why so many are concerned and rightfully have questions. These issues of a women’s right to be safe and of men and women engaging in healthy relationships are extremely important to talk about, however difficult. And more personally, as a father, a husband, a brother and man of deep faith, I understand how much confusion and pain this incident has had on so many, most importantly the young woman who was involved.”
The victim’s family issued a statement to the New York Times on Tuesday, asking for privacy and respect for the dead woman’s only son.
“We appreciate that after all this time, these men are being held accountable for their actions. However, we are dubious of the underlying motivations that bring this to present light after 17 years, and we will not take part in stoking its coals. While we cannot protect the victim from this media storm, we can do our best to protect her son. For that reason, we ask for privacy for our family and do not wish to comment further.”
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It seems like her brother and a sister, Sharon Loeffler, disagree with the rest of her family.
“I know what she would’ve said, and that would be, ‘I fought long and hard, it overcame me. All I can ask is any other victims to come forward, and not let this kind of tolerance to go on anymore,'” said Loeffler. “These guys sucked the soul and life out of her.”
Last week, Parker, alongside the cast and crew of The Birth of a Nation, announced they’re endowing a fellowship for a young filmmaker of colour to participate in the Sundance Institute’s Inspire program each year for the next five years.
The Birth of a Nation is screening at this year’s Toronto Film Festival.
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