Florence Pugh brings the heat on Instagram, claiming her post was buried.
The Marvel star tried to use her social media platform to raise awareness and air her thoughts on the viral Cornell rape case. She claims that the platform blocked the post instead of pushing it further in the algorithm.
Florence Pugh has joined the list of many who have spoken up after a woman came forward accusing seven Cornell University men of drugging and sexually assaulting her nearly two years ago.
Florence Pugh Slams Instagram For Restricting ‘My Post’
Pugh took a jab at Instagram, claiming it put her post out of sight. The post in question was the actress’s reaction to the “horrific” alleged Cornell gang rape case. She posted a screenshot of her Instagram dashboard showing the original post grayed out with a crossed-out eye icon.
She decided to give it a second chance, noting that she wants people who were unable to see it to have a view of her thoughts on the incident. “Instagram decided to block my post from getting in front of the right people,” she wrote, adding, “Tut tut tut. Oh dear. That doesn’t look great, does it?”
Pugh expressed in her statement that she was left “feeling uneasy and sick and anxious” after reading about the alleged gang rape. She noted that the “not all men” argument cannot hold, as many men have stayed quiet despite news of this sickening act.
A spokesperson for Meta spoke to TMZ, explaining that the reason the post was censored was due to rules about content describing sexual violence. They claimed those rules are enforced to protect victims and teens who use the app. Ultimately, Pugh’s post was reviewed and “is now live and visible without restrictions for adults.”
What Happened In The Cornell University Alleged Gang Rape Case?
In case you did not know, a woman whose actual identity has not been disclosed filed a civil complaint against the Ivy League school and seven male students. The suit was filed under the name Jane Doe and alleges that the incident occurred in October 2024 at the Chi Phi fraternity house in Ithaca.
Doe states that she went to the frat house intoxicated after drinking with some of her sorority sisters. At the house, she allegedly met up with Matthew Ingalls, whom she saw as a friend; unbeknownst to her, the worst hours of her life were loading.
As reported by Cosmopolitan, Ingalls pressured Doe to take ketamine along with another fraternity brother, Jonathan Newell, before they started sexually assaulting her. She also accuses them of pouring and snorting drugs off her body.
Five other men joined in and allegedly assaulted the then-20-year-old for hours. Two of them reportedly posted an inappropriate ad in their Snapchat group, Chi Phi Actives, inviting others to join. They allegedly continued till she was rendered immobile and lost consciousness.
The names of the Cornell Seven are Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris, Scott Kretzschmar, Ingalls, and Newell.
What Steps Did Cornell Take Regarding The Claims?
According to reports, none of the seven men involved have ever faced criminal charges; the University expelled two and asked the others to attend workshops or write essays showing contrition.
A spokesperson for the institution told TMZ that the school conducted a months-long Title IX probe, using temporary suspensions and other restrictions while the allegations were investigated. They also claimed that the case was presented before a panel of trained faculty and staff, giving the accuser and the accused a chance to testify.
The Cornell spokesperson pushed back against the narrative that disciplinary action was not taken, insisting that none of the students were told to write essays as the sole consequence for their actions.
Cornell revealed the fraternity tied to the case was closed in 2024 and has since been barred from campus. The institution also supports the District Attorney’s decision to have Jane Doe’s case go before a grand jury.
Investigators Reopen Probe Into The Case
A New York prosecutor has revealed that an investigation into the alleged rape has been reopened. PEOPLE obtained the civil complaint filed in 2024, which states that Doe reported the incident to the campus police three weeks after it allegedly occurred.
As no criminal charges were initially filed against any of the accused Cornell seven, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten said in a statement that his office had reopened the criminal investigation.
Van Houten explained that his office prosecutes crimes but does not conduct “parallel independent investigations of cases alongside police investigations.” The DA also noted that his office did not believe the charges were appropriate based on the information available at the time.
Florence Pugh Previously Discussed On-Screen Intimacy Scenes
Last year, Pugh got candid about her experience with intimacy coordinators on set during an appearance on “The Louis Theroux Podcast.” She explained that having the coordinators present during filming was to ensure things did not get complicated or awkward.
The actress noted that she has seen both sides of the coin and filmed scenes with and without a coordinator. She also recalled a time when things became “completely inappropriate” on set, and there was no intimacy coordinator to protect her.
The TV personality also noted that through her experience shooting several sex scenes, she has learned how effective having coordinators can be. She praised them for being a voice for female actors on set, as well as a certain male co-star who stuck up for her during filming.
Is Florence Pugh’s post going to inspire other industry stars to speak up?
