STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Former Steubenville NAACP President Blames Rape Victim

Royal Mayo, the former president of Steubenville's NAACP, is placing the blame on the victim of the rape case in the Ohio town.

The outrageous victim blaming continues in the Steubenville rape case that shook the small Ohio town. Former Steubenville NAACP President Royal Mayo has added himself to the list of people who need to re-evaluate their flawed thought process on rape that excuses the rapists' behavior.

Mayo placed blame on the 16-year-old girl who was raped by Trent Mays and Ma'Lik Richmond and said she was drunk and willing to partake in the incident, according to the International Business Times.

The two Steubenville High School students, Mays and Richmond, were sentence to at least a year in juvenile jail on March 17.

Mayo also believes there were other teens involved in the incident that got off because they were "well-connected."
International Business Times reports:

In a phone interview with the International Business Times, Mayo described the 16-year-old girl as the “alleged victim” and said she might have been having consensual sex. “She said her mother brought her to the party, at 3 o'clock, with a bottle of vodka,” Mayo said. “Where did you get it, young lady? You brought it from home? Where’d you get it? You came to the party with your mother.”

Mayo added that she might have been a willing participant, apparently unfazed by the inflammatory nature of such statements. “They’re alleging she got raped; she’s acknowledging that she wanted to leave with Trent. Her friends say she pushed them away as she went and got into the car, twice telling them, ‘I know what I’m doing; I’m going with Trent,’” Mayo said.

By 10:30 p.m., other partygoers were making catcalls and bets to urinate on her, according to a New York Times time line of the incident. The victim was “carried” out of the party by Richmond and Mays two hours later. In the car on the way to another party, Mays was videotaped digitally penetrating the victim. At a third party, the victim was unable to walk on her own, and, according to testimony, Richmond was seen digitally penetrating her from behind. In the videotaped testimonies from the teens at the party, they understood that something wrong was happening but did not stop the sexual assault, as reported by Gawker.

Read the full story here.

The NAACP later sent out a statement condemning Mayo's remarks. 

“The NAACP abhors the remarks attributed to Royal Mayo regarding the rape victim in Steubenville," the organization wrote. "The remarks are Mayo’s own, and do not reflect the position of the NAACP and its membership."

"Mr. Mayo is not the president of the Steubenville NAACP and is not a spokesman for the NAACP. The article attributing him as such has been corrected by the International Business Times," it continued. 

"Rape is a despicable crime of violence. The NAACP understands that comments that blame victims for the actions of their attackers contribute to and perpetuate a culture of acquiescence to rape..."

BET National News - Keep up to date with breaking news stories from around the nation, including headlines from the hip hop and entertainment world. Click here to subscribe  to our newsletter. 

Get ready for the BET Experience, featuring Beyoncé, Snoop DoggR. Kelly, Erykah BaduKendrick Lamar and many more. Go here for more details and info on how to buy tickets.

(Photo: AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, Pool)

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.