Birth of a Nation director Nate Parker addressed his rape accuser's suicide in a lengthy statement on his official Facebook account.
Parker, now 36, and his college roommate were accused of assault by the unnamed woman when he attended Penn State University in 1999. The star was acquitted and has maintained his innocence.
"I write to you all devastated. 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. I understand why so many are concerned and rightfully have questions," he wrote on Tuesday, August 16.
"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," he continued. "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."
Parker's rape case resurfaced this past week. Amid the ongoing press about Parker, the woman's brother, Johnny, came forward and revealed that his sister committed suicide in 2012 by overdosing on sleeping pills.
"She became detached from reality," Johnny told Variety. "The progression was very quick and she took her life."
The Beyond the Lights actor wrote that it was difficult to hear the news. "I myself just learned that the young woman ended her own life several years ago and I am filled with profound sorrow," he wrote Tuesday. "I look back on that time, my indignant attitude and my heartfelt mission to prove my innocence with eyes that are more wise with time. I see now that I may not have shown enough empathy even as I fought to clear my name. Empathy for the young woman and empathy for the seriousness of the situation I put myself and others in. I cannot change what has happened. I cannot bring this young woman who was someone else’s daughter, someone’s sister and someone’s mother back to life."
"I have never run from this period in my life and I never ever will," he continued. "Please don’t take this as an attempt to solve this with a statement. I urge you only to take accept this letter as my response to the moment."
Read the rest of Parker's statement here.
