Florence Pugh Urges Men to Condemn Cornell Over Gang Rape Lawsuit

Actor Florence Pugh posted a statement Sunday condemning Cornell University for what she described as protecting seven men accused in a new gang rape lawsuit filed by a former student. Pugh called on men to be "as horrified and as sickened" as women and to lead conversations about changing complicity in such behavior.

The lawsuit, filed September 14 in New York County Supreme Court, alleges that a 20-year-old student identified as Jane Doe was drugged and raped for hours at the Chi Phi fraternity house in Ithaca in October 2024. The complaint states two fraternity members pressured her to snort a substance they claimed was ketamine before the assault began.

“How can you expect us to trust that it's 'not all men' when in moments like this, many of you stay quiet?”

According to court documents, one alleged perpetrator messaged the fraternity's Snapchat group inviting others to join, writing there was "free p****" available. Seven men are accused of participating in the hours-long assault, which included snorting ketamine off the plaintiff's body and moving her between rooms.

Doe reported the incident to Cornell University Police on November 8, 2024. A Title IX investigation concluded with only two of the seven accused students expelled; the others received lesser sanctions including suspensions, workshops, and essay-writing assignments.

The suit names Cornell University, seven Chi Phi fraternity members, the national and local sorority chapter, two local bars, and several university-affiliated individuals as defendants for allegedly failing to monitor, supervise, or protect the plaintiff. A Cornell representative did not immediately respond to requests for comment.