Florence Pugh is not known for staying quiet, and this weekend she used her platform for something far heavier than a movie promo. The actress posted a lengthy Instagram statement calling the alleged 2024 gang rape of a Cornell University student“horrific,”writing that she felt“uneasy and sick and anxious”after reading about the case. The lawsuit, filed September 16, alleges that a then-20-year-old student was drugged and sexually assaulted by seven Chi Phi fraternity members.
The detail that has everyone talking is what happened after. Pugh says Instagram partially took her post down, and she accused the platform of silencing her. Her statement also made a direct demand of men, writing that“there is no equality until you respect our bodies”and calling on men to speak up rather than stay on the sidelines. Actor Josh Gad also issued a statement, and Cornell says its Chi Phi chapter remains barred from campus while maintaining that the allegations were investigated.
The case has reignited a much bigger debate about fraternity culture and campus accountability, especially after the alleged victim’s attorney claimed only two of the seven accused students were expelled, with others receiving punishments like essays and workshops. Whatever happens in court, the conversation is not going away, and neither is the pressure Pugh helped put on it.
What do you think real accountability should look like on college campuses? Sound off in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.