Florence Pugh Expresses Distress Over Cornell University Sexual Assault Allegations

Florence Pugh has voiced her distress over a lawsuit filed by a former Cornell University student who alleges she was sexually assaulted by seven fraternity members nearly two years ago. The English actress, 30, shared her feelings of being "uneasy and sick and anxious" in an extended statement posted to Instagram on Sunday.

The lawsuit, filed earlier this month in New York Supreme Court, claims that members of the Chi Phi fraternity used Snapchat to coordinate the assault on the student, who was then 20 years old. The alleged incident has reportedly left the student traumatized and suffering from ongoing effects. A lawyer representing one of the accused students has denied the allegations.

Pugh stated that the alleged assault should provoke a strong and vocal reaction from all individuals, regardless of gender. "This is really the moment where we need our men to be as horrified and as sickened as us," she wrote. "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 actress emphasized that those who were complicit in the alleged attack, even if they did not directly participate, should face serious scrutiny. "They are as evil as those planning it," Pugh said. "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."

According to the lawsuit, the woman reported the alleged incident to campus police approximately three weeks after it occurred. In November 2024, the university suspended the fraternity and seven members. Two members were reportedly expelled, while others were given the option to write essays as a form of contrition. Pugh found the school's response to be "unacceptable," given the alleged severity of the incident.

"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!" Pugh commented. "We are not hard enough on those that want to damage human lives."

Pugh commended those at Cornell who are "fighting for that girl" and "exposing those boys" accused in the attack, asserting that they "should not be allowed to walk freely like the rest of us who treasure and care for souls."

The actress also highlighted what she described as a pattern of educational institutions failing women and emboldening men. "I’m no longer tired but now enraged by schools protecting boys, in fear of their futures being wrecked," she stated. "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."

Pugh called for accountability for those who protect and lightly sentence individuals accused of rape, stating they "should be punished and watched closely."

She concluded by asserting that such situations underscore significant gender inequality issues, adding, "There is no equality until we can say we feel safe. We are the life force of this earth, start f***ing protecting us. Be angry for us. Please."

Cornell University issued a statement on September 21 regarding the lawsuit, acknowledging the "deeply disturbing allegations of sexual assault involving members of the student community that occurred in 2024." The university stated that it investigated and adjudicated the allegations in accordance with its policies and that the fraternity chapter "remains barred from our campus." Due to federal privacy laws, Cornell cannot disclose specific details about individual student disciplinary actions. The university also noted that a task force on campus sexual assault was established shortly after the incident, and several of its recommendations have been implemented.