Sunny Hostin Sparks Debate on 'The View' Over Cornell Rape Allegations

Sunny Hostin, a co-host on ABC's "The View," has ignited controversy by suggesting that the accuser in a lawsuit against seven Cornell University students may have consented to sexual activity, citing the accuser's initial statement to authorities.

The lawsuit, filed Sept. 16, alleges that the unnamed female student was drugged and gang-raped by members of the Chi Phi fraternity on Oct. 19, 2024. The accuser, referred to as Jane Doe, claims she was incapacitated by alcohol and ketamine and unable to consent to the sexual acts that occurred at the fraternity house. She further alleges that multiple fraternity members entered the room during the assault, with one allegedly instructing her to snort ketamine off his body.

During a recent episode of "The View," Hostin stated that media coverage of the case has been "inaccurate" and "unfair." She pointed to Jane Doe's initial statement, asserting that the accuser claimed to have "voluntarily" consumed alcohol and ketamine and planned to meet one of the accused men. Hostin argued that under New York law, voluntary intoxication does not negate consent, and that based on the initial statement, a prosecutor would not have pursued the case.

"I prosecuted sex crimes for 10 years. I believe women. I am not saying that we shouldn't believe her, but in 2024 she said one thing, and now in 2026 she's saying another thing," Hostin said. She added that the "pictures of these young men who have not been charged, not been adjudicated, are being plastered all over the internet."

Hostin's remarks drew immediate pushback from her "View" co-hosts. Joy Behar countered that the accuser's level of intoxication should not be a factor in considering the alleged attack. Alyssa Farah Griffin highlighted messages from a Snapchat thread involving fraternity members, where one allegedly wrote of "free p***y" upstairs, referring to Doe. Griffin questioned why no fraternity members intervened to ensure the woman's safety.

"I want to know who saw those Snapchats and didn’t think the masculine thing to do right now is to see if this girl is okay. The masculine thing to do is to call the police. The masculine thing to do is to say, 'Shut this down, this is dangerous, this is wrong,'" Griffin stated.

Jane Manning, director of Women's Equal Justice, explained to The New York Times that New York's legal definition of rape, which excludes cases where the victim was voluntarily intoxicated, has complicated the ongoing legal proceedings. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has previously advocated for amending this law.

The lawsuit names Cornell University, the Chi Phi fraternity, the accuser's sorority, a local bar, and seven fraternity members as defendants. The initial report of the incident to campus police did not result in criminal charges. However, following public outcry, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten reopened the case, noting that Jane Doe's original 2024 statement did not allege drugging or gang rape.

Jane Doe's attorney, Thomas Giuffra, stated that his client was traumatized and in denial during her initial report and has questioned the thoroughness of the Cornell Police Department's investigation. Attorneys for several accused students, including Scott Kretzschmar, Scott Norris, and Gillio Lopes, have denied the allegations.

Chi Phi has been banned from Cornell's campus since 2024. The university has stated it supports the District Attorney's decision to revisit the case.