The woman who punched a Catholic pro-life activist in the face during a video interview last week offered an apology online on Saturday while also claiming, “She railroaded me into all of this.”
The alleged attacker, Brianna Rivers, addressed pro-life activist Savannah Craven Antao, 23, in a post to Facebook, admitting she was wrong for socking her in the face while also accusing her of “pushing this one-sided narrative,” the New York Post reported.
“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,” Rivers wrote. “She knows the truth and she needs to release the footage in its entirety. Savannah is a professional antagonist not a ‘reporter’ and the truth will be told.”
Bronx woman who socked pro-lifer apologizes, claims she was ‘railroaded’ by ‘professional antagonist’ https://t.co/ZKJsMkOE1N pic.twitter.com/pEa0qdzrNb
— New York Post (@nypost) April 5, 2025
The social media post also included the picture of a note accusing Antao of intentionally antagonizing her during the street interview in Harlem.
“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. She railroaded me into all of this,” Rivers wrote.
“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. Anyone who knows me knows how respectful I am, I don’t even litter, there’s no way you believe I’m punching people for disagreeing with my POV,” she continued.
Rivers did not respond to the Post’s request for comment.
To Savannah , I sincerely apologize but cannot sit around and allow you to continue pushing this one sided narrative. I…
Posted by Brianna J Rivers on Saturday, April 5, 2025
Craven Antao reported the assault to police and admitted to “provoking River,” the Post reported, citing authorities. An NYPD spokesperson told Breitbart News on Monday that no one has been arrested and that the incident is under investigation.
Catholic News Agency (CNA) reported that Craven Antao has worked for years as a pro-life advocate and regularly does street interviews for her YouTube channel and various organizations.
When the attack happened, Craven Antao was working with Live Action as a pro-life reporter. Live Action shared footage of the assault, and Live Action President Lila Rose shared a picture of Craven Antao with blood streaming down her face after the attack.
The incident occurred at around 6:05 p.m. on April 3 near W 126 St. and Lenox Avenue, where an individual “did strike the 23-year-old female victim with a closed fist causing a laceration,” according to NYPD.
VIDEO OF THE ASSAULT OF PRO LIFE JOURNALIST BY PRO-ABORTION ADVOCATE IN NEW YORK
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) April 4, 2025
Savannah Craven was working with Live Action conducting man on the street interviews, asking “Do you know what Planned Parenthood does?” when she was attacked
She is at hospital now pic.twitter.com/oTOKATXsjp
BREAKING: Savannah Craven, a pro-life advocate working with Live Action, was just assaulted by a pro-abortion supporter in NYC while interviewing passerbys, asking them “Do you know what Planned Parenthood does?”
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) April 3, 2025
An abortion supporter began talking with Savannah but became… pic.twitter.com/LbKQc1Bl1g
According to Live Action, the woman, later identified by the Post as Rivers, allegedly at one point during the interview stated, “You don’t understand the magnitude of having a child.”
Craven Antao replied, “I’m not the one who admitted they would be okay with killing babies in foster care and killing children that had been abused,” before Rivers allegedly struck her face and walked off.
Craven Antao told CNA she “had absolutely no time to see that it was coming.”
Craven Antao’s husband, Henry, said he allegedly protected her from further attacks and the woman walked away, according to the report. The pair called the police, although the alleged assailant could not be located at the time. Craven Antao went to the hospital where she received two stitches. She said she is raising money for a security fund through her YouTube channel.
Craven Antao expressed sympathy for the woman who struck her, saying, “I know that that woman was hurting inside.”
“And that’s why I still want to pray for her, and that she finds peace with herself,” she told CNA, replying “absolutely not” when asked if the attack will deter her from future pro-life work.
Craven Antao told the Post she is mentally struggling and having a lot of stress and flashbacks of the attack.
“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,” she said.
Katherine Hamilton is a political reporter for Breitbart News. You can follow her on X @thekat_hamilton.
