Gabrielle Union has finally broken her silence on director Nate Parkers rape allegations in a op-ed for the Los Angles Times, according to Huffington Post.
Union, 43, appears in Parker’s Birth of Nation as an unnamed slave, who is raped– she is not taking finding out about the allegations lightly, herself being raped at gun point at the age of 19.
The actress wrote that she had no idea about 1999 rape allegations against Parker and his college roommate, “Birth of Nation” collaborator Jean McGianni Celestin when she first signed on to the film two years ago. And admits she’s found herself in “a state of stomach-churning confusion” since learning of them last month.
She wrote:
I cannot take these allegations lightly. On that night, 17-odd years ago, did Nate have his date’s consent? It’s very possible he thought he did. Yet by his own admission he did not have verbal affirmation; and even if she never said ‘no,’ silence certainly does not equal ‘yes.’ Although it’s often difficult to read and understand body language, the fact that some individuals interpret the absence of a ‘no’ as a ‘yes’ is problematic at least, criminal at worst. That’s why education on this issue is so vital.
Regardless of what she’s learned about Parker and what people think, she’s choosing to focus on the good the film can do. She also explained that she took the role because she wanted to give a voice to the nameless character, who remains silent throughout the film.
This definitely shows great professionalism given the circumstances.