In this April 14, 2016 file photo, Nate Parker, director of the upcoming film "The Birth of a Nation," accepts the Breakthrough Director of the Year award during the CinemaCon 2016 Big Screen Achievement Awards in Las Vegas. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) --
The American Film Institute has canceled plans to screen writer-director Nate Parker's "The Birth of a Nation" for students this week amid controversies surrounding a 17-year-old rape accusation against Parker and his co-writer.
The school planned to show the film and host a Q&A with Parker for its fellows, but late Tuesday, AFI dean Jan Schuette sent a note to students saying they would postpone until later in the year.
It would have marked the first time Parker has appeared in public since the case resurfaced nearly two weeks ago. Parker was acquitted.
Schuette said the school plans to hold a moderated discussion to explore issues of "messenger and message, gender, race and more."
Fox Searchlight still plans to release "The Birth of a Nation" on Oct. 7.
Pepsi soft drinks in plastic bottles are on sale at a grocery store in New York on Weds., Nov. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
PepsiCo confirmed Friday that it's ending some of its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, even as rival Coca-Cola voiced support for its own inclusion efforts.
In a memo sent to employees, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company will no longer set goals for minority representation in its managerial roles or supplier base. The company will also align its sponsorships to events and groups that promote business growth, he said.
Laguarta wrote that inclusion remains important to PepsiCo, whose brands include Gatorade, Lay's potato chips, Doritos, Mountain Dew as well as Pepsi. The Purchase, New York-based company's chief diversity officer will transition to a broader role focused on employee engagement, leadership development and ensuring an inclusive culture, he said.
Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last month, U.S. government agencies, companies and schools have rushed to reevaluate policies and programs they adopted with the goal of reducing discrimination against members of minority groups, women and LGBTQ+ people.
Trump ended DEI programs within the federal government and has warned schools to end DEI programs or risk losing federal money.
PepsiCo's rollback came as Coca-Cola reaffirmed support for its DEI efforts.
In its annual report, Atlanta-based Coke warned that its business could be negatively affected if it is unable to attract employees that reflect its broad range of customers.
"Failure to maintain a corporate culture that fosters innovation, collaboration and inclusion … could disrupt our operations and adversely affect our business and our future success," the company said.
Coca-Cola has set a goal of having women in 50% of its senior leadership roles by... Read More
