Nate Parker Apologizes For His Response To Rape Allegations ‘I Was Absolutely Tone Deaf’

Nate Parker

Nate Parker Apologizes For His Response To Rape Allegations ‘I Was Absolutely Tone Deaf’

Nate Parker is apologizing for his response to rape accusations against him, three years after his career took a major dive following the allegations. In 2016, it was reported that Parker and his then wrestling teammate were accused of sexually assaulting a woman. The alleged incident occurred at Penn State in 1999, and the woman tragically took her life in 2012. Her death certificate said she suffered from

“PTSD due to physical and sexual abuse.”

When the accusations resurfaced, Parker was gearing up for the highly anticipated release of Birth of a Nation; the success of that film was clearly impacted by the allegations against him. It only brought in $16.9 million worldwide.

Parker also did a series of interviews and explained why he wouldn’t apologize, stating that he was falsely accused.

This also occurred during the peak of the #MeToo movement where women were calling out powerful men in the entertainment industry for alleged sexual abuse.

Now, he has a different take. He spoke about the allegations and his fall from grace during a press conference in Venice for his new film American Skin Sunday.

“The last 3 years have been such a learning experience for me. The reality is that three years ago I was absolutely tone deaf to the realities of certain situations that were happening in the climate…There were a lot of people that were hurt by the way I responded and how I approached things and I apologize to those people. It has been a journey. I feel very blessed to be here. To be at the Venice film festival with a film I believe so desperately in.”

Spike Lee

Oscar-Award winning director Spike Lee is also helping Parker promote the film and supported him. The movie tells the story of  Iraq War veteran, played by Parker, whose son is killed by a police officer. Power actor Omari Hardwick also stars in the film.

Lee said he and Parker sat down and had a “man-to-man” and “brother-to-brother” conversation.

“He talked about the growth, but also the pain. In the end, I said: ‘brother, I’m with you.’ And that’s why I’m here.”

What do you think about Nate Parker’s latest response? Tell us in the comments.