Why is Nate Parker, whose Nat Turner biopic Birth of a Nation is a leading contender for the Oscars next year, in hot water with Black Twitter?
Apparently, some "super woke" folks just "woke" up to the fact that the actor and director has a white wife. Parker and Sarah DiSanto, who have been together since college and have four children together, managed to stay under the radar for years, but somehow Twitter just got wind of the union and decided to go in.
It's not clear why this interracial relationship suddenly became an issue, but it could have something to do with the fact that Parker and DiSanto just shared the news that they've welcomed their fourth child, another baby girl, into the world (it actually happened over a month ago, which is another testament to how well these two have managed to stay off the radar). Perhaps the photos of the couple that accompanied the coverage of their happy announcement set some people off:
The comments have been unforgiving:
When you find out Nate Parker's wife is eggshell colored pic.twitter.com/GHml0CDU4e
— Sita Ruiz (@Hi_Sita) August 5, 2016
Nate Parker's (Birth of a Nation star) mentions are destroyed once #Blacktwitter found out he has a white wife
— Tea n Whiskey (@Lips4daze) August 7, 2016
So Nate Parker is "woke," homophobic, and married to a white woman. He's a hotep's wet dream.
— Peachy Vanzant (@CajunPeachy) August 6, 2016
Nate Parker got a white woman, his views are now null and void
— Rashard (@YoungWildTycoon) August 5, 2016
I loved Nate Parker more than Idris Elba... And he's not only married, but he's married WITH children TO a white woman....
— Bossy Spice (@blreeves) August 5, 2016
Others, however, are standing up for the Parkers, and calling out the naysayers for their double standards:
I find it funny how people can feel some way about Nate Parker's wife being white, but won't say shit about @harrybelafonte family. smh.
— Dev Structures (@4RK1DV2) August 7, 2016
Y'all mad at Nate Parker because his wife is white..
— ItsJustJayNow (@ChocnessMonsta) August 6, 2016
...but LOVE Jesse Williams who comes from an IR relationship? pic.twitter.com/jYQYn69vY0
Why y'all mad Nate Parker is married to a white woman? I swear y'all really don't want equality, y'all just act like it.
— Him Kardashian-West (@mrLdavis) August 5, 2016
Y'all can't be out here saying Nate Parker can't be woke & have a white wife when a lot of black females are woke but only date white men🙄
— Lèna (@Cumplaymalena) August 7, 2016
As we can see, Parker's newfound success (thanks to the insane amount of buzz surround Birth of a Nation) means increased scrutiny into his personal life. Thankfully, it seems like his marriage is on solid ground and should be immune to the hate.
Catch up with the hype around Birth of a Nation, which hits theaters this fall, with BET Breaks, above.
(Photos: Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival)
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