Actress Florence Pugh addressed the Cornell University sexual assault allegations in an Instagram post calling on men to speak out about violence against women and demanding accountability from institutions and “every man.”
She described the matter as a human issue that demands allyship from men in her Instagram post on Sunday.
“I’m processing quietly and watching everything and everyone and every man,” Ms. Pugh posted.
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She urged men to step forward, use their voices and be part of the accountability.
“And if you are one of those shouting about this from the rooftops — thank you. Truly. … We are all involved. Men especially,” she said.
Her post referred to a civil lawsuit filed Sept. 16 by a former Cornell student identified as “Jane Doe” in Manhattan Supreme Court.
The woman alleges that multiple men drugged and raped her over several hours in October 2024 at Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity house.
Her lawsuit names seven former Chi Phi members and the university, accusing the school of breach of contract, negligence and violations of state law. Attorneys for two of the accused have denied the allegations.
Cornell said it conducted a Title IX investigation, and a hearing panel issued sanctions. University President Michael Kotlikoff said two accused were expelled, two were suspended for at least two semesters, one had already graduated and two were found not responsible.
The university called any suggestion it imposed minimal consequences “false.”
Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten is reopening the criminal investigation and hopes to bring the case to a grand jury within 45 days. He said her November 2024 claims in the civil suit are “dramatically different” from the initial report made to campus police in 2024.
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