Florence Pugh urges men to speak out over Cornell rape suit: ‘You need to be leading conversations’

Florence Pugh has called on men to speak out over allegations that a former Cornell University student was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple fraternity members.

Pugh said she was “enraged” by what she described as institutions protecting men at the expense of women.

In an Instagram post, the Dune star wrote that she was feeling “uneasy and sick and anxious” after reading about the former Cornell student, who filed a civil lawsuit accusing seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity of sexually assaulting her at the fraternity’s house in October 2024.

“I know this has happened before, and I hate the idea of it happening again,” she continued. “This is really the moment where we need our men to be as horrified and as sickened as us. You need to be leading conversations about how we change the allowance and complicity of this behaviour as much as we are. How can you expect us to trust that it’s ‘not all men’ when in moments like this, many of you stay quiet?”

The complaint filed by Jane Doe alleged that after an initial sexual assault, one of the men sent a message to the fraternity’s active Snapchat group chat inviting other fraternity members upstairs. Multiple male students later arrived, and Doe was subjected to an hours-long assault by seven of them, according to the complaint.

Pugh’s statement called out the members of the fraternity who saw the message and did nothing, writing: “Every single person who knew or heard about this happening, should be looked at with serious concern. They are as evil as those planning it. To know that a torture as violent as rape is about to happen ‘upstairs’ and not do ANYTHING ABOUT IT, is sick, cowardly and cold.”

Pugh took aim at the disciplinary response described in the lawsuit, which stated that of the seven male students named in the filing, only two were ultimately expelled by Cornell, while the remaining students received sanctions like temporary suspensions, required workshops, or essay-writing assignments.

“The thing that makes me most heartbroken, is it’s a want to kill a soul. This is a killing of a soul,” she wrote. “And they’ve been let off? All it takes is write a quick ‘I’m so sorry I raped a girl while she was drugged with my friends, we thought it would be fine?’ essay and you’re good to go! This is unacceptable.”

“Colleges/schools/universities repeatedly fail women around the world. You build men that get taught through time and time again that they can do extreme harm and that they won’t be harmed in return,” Pugh added.

Pugh continued: “I’m no longer tired – I’m enraged by schools protecting boys, in fear of their futures being wrecked. What about the life that those girls then have to endure, with the knowledge that his reputation is more precious than her truth? Or to feel that no one with the power to do something cares that you were abused.

“It’s further soul-destroying. Those that protect and lightly sentence men that rape and destroy, should be punished and watched closely. Why are you protecting someone that fiercely?”

In a statement to The Independent, a Cornell spokesperson said: “Cornell University supports the decision of the Tompkins County District Attorney (DA) to provide an opportunity for the victim’s story, in the 2024 Chi Phi fraternity Sexual Assault case, to be heard by a criminal grand jury.

“Cornell also conducted a thorough Title IX investigation, which is separate from a criminal proceeding, over the course of several months. During that investigation temporary suspensions and other restrictive measures were used. After investigation, and pursuant to federal law, the matter was sent to a hearing where a panel of trained faculty and staff heard evidence over multiple days. The complainant and respondents had the opportunity to testify and present evidence. At its conclusion, the hearing panel issued a range of sanctions, which included expulsions and suspensions from Cornell. None of the individuals charged were offered the opportunity to write essays as a sole consequence of their involvement.”

The statement added that the “involved fraternity was closed in 2024 and remains barred from campus”.

It added: “Any suggestion that the university did not impose consequential punishments for those involved is false. A continuation of the false narrative that there were minimal consequences in this case is irresponsible, will make survivors feel less safe and supported, and will perpetuate the underreporting of sexual assault.”

Pugh ended her statement with a call for greater protection for women, writing: “There is no equality until you respect our bodies. There is no equality until you stop damaging our souls. There is no equality until you let us live. There is no equality until we can say we feel safe.”

“We are the life force of this earth, start f***ing protecting us,” she added. “Be angry for us. Please.”

Pugh later posted an Instagram story saying her post appeared to have been restricted, as she found that “neither I or some of my followers can access the recent post”.

“Why is that? Has it been taken down for others? Am I being censored for talking about rape?” she asked.

In a subsequent story, she said the post had been “partially taken down”. “Some people can only see the trigger warning and some people can’t swipe,” she wrote. “Great! Another lovely lesson to teach people that if you speak up about it, we will silence you! Good job I saved it. I’ll give it another go.”

Pugh then said she had tried to publish the statement again but believed Instagram was limiting its reach. “I just tried posting it again and it’s blocking me from reaching people,” she wrote. “Instagram, at least we can see what side you’re on. Don’t protect rapists. It’s pathetic behaviour.”

The Independent has reached out to Meta for comment.

Doe, who dropped out of the university following the incident, is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive monetary damages, alleging breach of contract, negligence, negligent supervision, premises liability, and state law violations.

For those affected by rape and sexual abuse, if you are in the United States, you can call Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673).

Rape Crisis also offers support.You can call them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk.