Bronx Native Punches Pro-Life Reporter Over Abortion Debate
Woman Who Punched NYC Pro-Life Activist Breaks Her Silence: ‘I Was Railroaded’
Bronx resident Brianna Rivers and pro-life journalist Savannah Craven Antao have gone viral for their intense streetside debate on the topic of abortion. The conversation, which now has over 200,000 views on YouTube, ended in violence with Rivers—a pro-choice advocate—punching Craven Antao at the end of the interview. Now, Rivers is defending her actions, accusing Craven Antao of provoking the attack.
Rivers claimed the interview was edited to make her look like a ‘monster.’
In a Facebook post shared on April 6, Rivers apologized for punching Craven Antao in the face, a reporter for pro-life media outlet Live Action, during their fiery streetside debate about Planned Parenthood and abortion on April 4. However, the New York native said she wouldn’t allow the reporter to continue promoting “a one-sided narrative” about the interview, arguing that Craven Antao antagonized her and released an unedited clip of their conversation that omitted key details.
“I need a platform to share my side of events. She has 7 million views making me out to be a ‘child killing’ monster when she knows the truth,” Rivers wrote in part. “She railroaded me into all of this. She needs to release the unedited footage with her relentless antagonization on a subject that is very touchy. I will not allow my image to be defamed by this woman’s actions.”
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In the caption, she continued, “To Savannah, I sincerely apologize but cannot sit around and allow you to continue pushing this one-sided narrative. I understand hands being put on someone is never the answer, but throwing rocks and hiding hands is worse. She knows the truth and she needs to release the footage in its entirety.”
What happened during their intense interview on abortion?
On Tuesday, Craven Antao posted her fiery streetside interview with Rivers on YouTube, a chat that initially started friendly and cordial. Craven Antao asked the Bronx resident her thoughts about Planned Parenthood, a nonprofit health organization that offers abortion services, emergency contraception, and other reproductive health options to women across the country.
Rivers, respectfully, said she was in favor of the organization, stating that Planned Parenthood was an excellent resource for young women and teens who “get caught up” in unplanned pregnancy. This choice could be difficult to “commit to for the rest of their lives.”
“Some women just don’t have it in them, and they abandon them [their child] and abuse them and all kinds of stuff— and it’s like, girl, just get rid of it if you know you’re going to do that.”
Craven Antao pushed her point, suggesting that women not prepared for motherhood should simply give their child to another family. Rivers countered, pointing out that Planned Parenthood offers this option.
However, the conversation turned sour when the two began discussing foster care.
“Why don’t they [women] just stop having sex with people they don’t want to have a child with?” Craven Antao asked, to which Rivers agreed, but she noted that ultimately, a woman should have the choice to do what’s best for her body and life, regardless of who she has sex with.
“You don’t get to kill the baby just because their dad didn’t want them. Should we kill the kids in foster care?” Craven Antao fired back.
Visibly upset, Rivers replied sharply, “Why not? Who’s gonna take care of them? I need to know the percentage of people who take children from foster care, abuse them, and molest them, who make them like personal slaves. I need specifics before you come to talk to me about pro-life.”
As Craven Antao pushed back on Rivers “admitting” that newborn babies in foster care should be killed, the New Yorker punched the reporter in the face, storming off and leaving her face bloodied.
Craven Antao speaks out.
Craven Antao told the New York Post in an interview published on April 5 that she sustained a black eye, requiring two stitches below her eyebrow. She also claimed that she had pain in her nasal area from Rivers’ sucker punch and was “struggling” mentally from the attack.
“I am having a lot of stress — just flashbacks about what happened to me,” Antao explained. “Every time I go on my phone and I open any social media, I see the video of myself being assaulted. And it’s like I go back to the moment. It’s terrifying.”
While reflecting on her assault during an interview with NewsMax, Craven Antao added that she had no clue Rivers was going to punch her.
“I have been spat on and of course cussed out. I mean that just kind of comes with how divisive this issue is in our country,” the reporter shared. “But I never expected her to lay a hand on me. There was no obvious build-up to this and many people will say they’re from the Bronx. They say, you should have seen it coming, but honestly, it was like a light switch went off. She just was totally normal. Had good vibes when she first came up and then boom! Right in the face.”
Watch the uncut interview between Craven Antao and Rivers below. Who do you think is in the wrong here?
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