Florence Pugh posted a lengthy statement on social media in response to a controversy at Cornell University regarding an alleged sexual assault incident that occurred two years ago.
Last week, news broke that a former Cornell student had accused seven men of raping and drugging her at a frat house party in October 2024; these allegations only became public after he filed a lawsuit against the university. According to his lawyer, following an investigation at the university, two of the defendants were expelled, while the remaining students were subjected to lighter sanctions such as temporary suspensions, workshops or essay writing assignments. No one was arrested.
The former student, identified at the time as Jane Doe and 20 years old, is now suing the school and fraternity members, claiming they failed to protect her and prevent the alleged assault.
In an Instagram post on Sunday, Pugh described the incident as a “horrible act” and added that she “knew this had happened before and I hate the idea of it happening again.” He also called on men to speak out and “lead the conversation about how we change the tolerance and complicity of this behavior.” He concluded: “Be mad at us. Please.”
Pugh’s statement came just days after she outlined her long-standing support for Palestine. Vanity Fair TBut he didn’t know “why it took so long for people to start talking and actually sympathize.”
Read Pugh’s full Instagram post below:
I feel uneasy, sick and worried after reading the story of the young woman who was gang raped by her friend and peers at university. I operate silently and watch everything, everyone and every man. I have a few ideas about this terrible event that occurred at Cornell College in 2024. I know this has happened before and I hate the idea of it happening again.
This is truly the moment when we need our men to be as terrified and sick as we are. You, as much as we do, need to lead the conversation about how to change the tolerance and complicity of this behavior. How do you expect us to trust that “it’s not all men” when so many of you remain silent at moments like these?
A drugged gangbang goes into action and makes speeches. This immediately makes me curious; Has it been in the works for a while? Had the damage it would do to this poor woman’s body been considered many times before? Anyone who knows or hears of this incident should be viewed with serious concern. They are as bad as those who planned this. Knowing that torture as severe as rape will happen ‘up there’ and not doing ANYTHING about it is sick, cowardly and cold.
What upsets me the most is the desire to kill a soul. This is the killing of a soul. Destroying a body and killing a soul. And were they released? All you have to do is write a short text: ‘I’m so sorry that I raped a girl who was on drugs with my friends, we thought it would be okay?’ try it and you are ready to go! This is unacceptable.
We are not being harsh enough on those who want to harm human life. I salute everyone who fought for that girl in college, exposed those boys, and made finding joy in their lives unbearable. Those of us who value and care about souls should not be allowed to walk free.
Colleges/schools/universities fail women over and over again around the world. You create men who are taught over and over that they can do extreme harm and not be harmed in return.
I’m not tired anymore; I am angry at schools that protect boys for fear their future will be ruined. What about the life these girls had to endure, knowing that his reputation was worth more than his truth? Or feeling like no one with the power to do anything cares about you being abused. This is even more soul destroying.
Those who protect and lightly punish men who rape and destroy must be punished and closely monitored. Why are you protecting someone so fiercely?
There is no equality unless you respect our bodies. There is no equality until we stop harming our souls. There is no equality until you let us live. There is no equality until we say we feel safe. We are the life force of this world, we begin to protect us. Be angry for us. Please.