Florence Pugh condemns alleged Cornell University gang rape

Actress Florence Pugh has publicly condemned the alleged gang rape of a Cornell University student, calling for greater male accountability and criticizing institutional failures. The case involves a lawsuit filed by a former student, identified as Jane Doe, who alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity in October 2024.

Pugh expressed her outrage on Instagram, stating that the incident left her feeling “uneasy and sick and anxious.” She challenged the silence of men regarding sexual violence, asking, “How can you expect us to trust that it’s ‘not all men’ when in moments like this, many of you stay quiet?”

Following the initial report in 2024, the university investigation resulted in two expulsions and other disciplinary actions, such as suspensions and workshops, but no criminal charges were filed at that time. However, prosecutors in New York have recently announced they are reopening the investigation and will present the case to a grand jury.

Pugh also accused Instagram of attempting to censor her response to the case by restricting the visibility of her post. Meta responded by stating the content was flagged due to rules regarding the description of sexual violence, though the post was later restored for adult users.