With the release of Nate Parker’s critically acclaimed film The Birth Of A Nation making its way to theaters, the director, producer, and star of the film is opening up about the 1999 rape case that has caused so much chaos during promotion of the movie.

Parker sat down with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America on Tuesday and revealed why he comes off as unsympathetic when he discusses the sensitive case. He told Roberts, “I was falsely accused. I was proven innocent and I’m not going to apologize for that.” 

Robin then asked, “You have a daughter in college, what do you tell her?” 

Nate responded, “She knows how I feel about her and I’ve addressed it so many times.”

But just like most of his interviews, including the 60 Minutes segment that aired just before GMA, Parker reverted back to the film, taking the attention off his complicated history. He continued, “I think the important thing, you know, is this isn’t about me. The story of Nat Turner as an American, as American people, the story about a man who was erased from history, at some point. I think that’s where our focus should be.”

Check out Nate Parker’s full interview above. The Birth Of A Nation hits theaters on Friday.

PHOTO CREDIT: Getty

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