Actor Florence Pugh condemned a Sept. 16 lawsuit alleging that seven members of Cornell University's Chi Phi fraternity sexually assaulted a student in October 2024. The complaint says the student reported the incident three weeks later and that two fraternity members were expelled while others received lesser university sanctions. Cornell says the Xi chapter remains barred from campus and that privacy rules limit what it can disclose publicly. Pugh described the allegations as "sickening," urged male allies to lead accountability efforts, and praised the plaintiff's courage.
Florence Pugh Condemns Lawsuit Alleging Sexual Assault by Cornell Fraternity Members
Florence Pugh said she felt "uneasy and sick and anxious" after reading about the ****** assault lawsuit at Cornell University.Karwai Tang via Getty Images/Barry Winiker via Getty Images/TW Farlow via Getty Images
Actor Florence Pugh has publicly reacted with anger and distress to a lawsuit alleging that seven members of Cornell University's Chi Phi fraternity sexually assaulted a fellow student in October 2024.
Allegations and Legal Action
The complaint, filed on Sept. 16 by a former Cornell student identified in court papers as Jane Doe, alleges that Doe was intoxicated when she went to the Chi Phi fraternity house, was given additional drugs and alcohol, taken upstairs and sexually assaulted by multiple men over several hours. The lawsuit says one of the men allegedly messaged a fraternity group chat suggesting Doe was "available for sex."
According to the complaint, Doe reported the incident to Cornell's police department about three weeks later. Doe's attorney told CBS News that, following the university investigation at the time, two of the seven men were expelled while the others received lesser sanctions such as suspensions, required workshops or written assignments. The complaint states that Doe later left the university and is now suing Cornell and the seven fraternity members.
Pugh's Response
"I'm no longer tired — I'm enraged by schools protecting boys, in fear of their futures being wrecked," Pugh wrote on Instagram. "What about the life that those girls then have to endure, with the knowledge that his reputation is more precious than her truth?"
In the same post, Pugh said reading about the lawsuit left her feeling "uneasy and sick and anxious" and urged that men should be equally "horrified and sickened" and should help lead conversations and accountability. She also criticized bystanders, writing that anyone who knew or heard about an assault that was about to happen and did nothing "are as evil as those planning it."
Pugh addressed Jane Doe directly, calling her "unbelievably powerful," praising her courage and saying women everywhere are ready to support her healing journey.
Cornell's Statement
In a Sept. 21 statement, Cornell said it "take[s] sexual violence extremely seriously" and confirmed that the Xi chapter of Chi Phi remains barred from campus. Kyle Kimball, the university's vice president for university relations, said federal privacy law prevents Cornell from disclosing details about individual students and noted that violations of university policy can result in sanctions up to and including suspension or expulsion. He said the university will respond in detail through the legal process.
The lawsuit remains subject to legal proceedings; the allegations in the complaint have not been proven in court.
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