Nicholas Sparks responds to fired headmaster's lawsuit

Author Nicholas Sparks has responded to a lawsuit filed against him by the former principal of the school he founded in 2006, revealing he feels "saddened" by accusations of racism and homophobia.
Saul Hillel Benjamin claimed in a lawsuit that he was fired from his post at Epiphany School of Global Studies in North Carolina after a series of run-ins with 'The Notebook' writer over policies towards African-American and gay students, reported Us magazine.
In his papers, he accuses Sparks of fostering an environment of exclusion, racism and homophobia at the school, alleging the author once forced him to justify his Jewish faith before the school as students hurled abuse him and staff applauded their insults.

The allegations have been denied by Sparks' "gay, Jewish" entertainment attorney Scott Schwimer, and now the writer has responded with a post on his Facebook page.
"I emphatically reject his (Benjamin) claims, but beyond that I am deeply saddened by their nature, given the fact that
"I founded Epiphany with the express purpose of creating a truly global and multicultural institution, accessible to individuals of all races, religions, and orientations. This is a painful experience for me," Sparks said.