The filmmakers behind “The Hunting Ground,” a recently released documentary about sexual assault on college campuses, have denied claims made by Florida State University President John Thrasher that they acted unethically in their portrayal of the Jameis Winston case.
The film, which opened Feb. 27, features Winston’s accuser Erica Kinsmann, her father, Florida State Attorney Willie Meggs, as well as a screen shot noting FSU officials did not respond to interview requests.
Thrasher, however, claimed in a lengthy statement on Tuesday that the university was not “given the opportunity” to present its side of the case, which cleared Winston of any wrongdoing, because it was not asked in time to participate. The filmmakers deny that allegation.
“The university had months to respond to the letter we sent President Thrasher in which we wrote that our film would examine how FSU was dealing with issues they had encountered regarding sexual assault and asking how it was responding to the crisis,” director Kirby Dick said in a statement sent to The Washington Post late Tuesday night. “This was a similar correspondence — in content and timing — that all colleges and universities featured in the film received.”
FSU President Thrasher alleged Kirby and his filmmaking partner Amy Ziering first contacted the university on Dec. 18, noting the date fell three weeks after the duo submitted “The Hunting Ground” to the Sundance Film Festival, where it premiered on Jan. 23.
Kirby, however, denies timing was the issue.
“We kept the film open (for edits) until February 19th in the hopes that President Thrasher and other presidents would come forward,” he said. “It’s unfortunate because we would have welcomed including President Thrasher or another FSU official in the film.”
Kirby adds the first response from FSU came only last week, “three days before our film opened in theaters and more than two months after we first sent the letter.” He added, “Rather than attack the messenger, President Thrasher should show leadership and focus on the problem that has existed on his campus for decades.”
Kirby also said he and Ziering reached out to Jameis Winston’s attorney, the Tallahassee Police Department and Investigator Scott Angulo, who was at the center of the initial investigation when Kinsmann first reported it more than two years ago.
“Representatives from the Tallahassee Police and Investigator Angulo declined to be interviewed,” Kirby said. “Neither Winston nor his attorney returned our multiple queries.”
Marissa Payne writes for The Early Lead, a fast-breaking sports blog, where she focuses on what she calls the “cultural anthropological” side of sports, aka “mostly the fun stuff.” She is also an avid WWE fan.
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