Ava DuVernay Rips Central Park 5 Prosecutor After Lawsuit Settlement, Praises Netflix For “Unwavering Support” & $1M Innocence Project Donation

deadline.com:

EXCLUSIVE: Ava DuVernay had a lot to say in the Emmy-winning When They See Us about the harmed heaped on the so-called Central Park 5 and now she is speaking out about the settlement she and Netflix reached with the former prosecutor in that travesty of justice. “After years of legal wrangling and millions of dollars spent, she walked away with no payment to her or her lawyers of any kind, rather than face cross examination before a New York jury as to her conduct and character,” the Array founder told Deadline today of the end of the four-year defamation suit that was set for trial to start on June 10. “I believe that Linda Fairstein was responsible for the investigation and prosecution of the Central Park Jogger case that resulted in the wrongful conviction of five innocent Black and Brown boys,” she bluntly said.

She added: “In the days leading up to her defamation trial, Linda Fairstein decided that she was not willing to face a jury of her peers.

It’s a phenomenon that often happens with bullies. When you stand up to them, unafraid, they often take their ball and go home.” READ AVA DUVERNAY’S FULL STATEMENT ON THE LINDA FAIRSTEIN SUIT & SETTLEMENT BELOW In her suit for unspecified damages, an apology and more, Fairstein said that the Felicity Huffman-portrayed depiction of her made her look like a “racist, unethical villain who is determined to jail innocent children of color at any cost.” After Netflix and DuVernay were unsuccessful in getting the case dismissed, U.S.

District Judge Kevin Castel determined last fall that there was “clear and convincing evidence that defendants were recklessly indifferent to the truth” — hence the trial that is now not going to happen.