Hollywood Figures React to Cornell Gang Rape Allegations

Notable Hollywood personalities like Mariska Hargitay, Hudson Williams, Florence Pugh, and Josh Gad are voicing strong criticism towards seven male Cornell students accused by an unnamed woman of gang rape in 2024. Their remarks include extreme sentiments such as the belief that these individuals “shouldn’t be allowed penises anymore” and that they have “lost the right to a future.”

The allegations have recently gained significant media attention following the woman’s lawsuit against her alleged attackers, their fraternity, Cornell University, and her former sorority, among others.

“We refuse for this victim to be reduced to just another story. Cornell has failed to protect its students,” Hargitay stated on Monday through her Instagram, in a message joined with the Joyful Heart Foundation, an organization she founded.

In her post, Hargitay brought attention to the plight of the allegedly assaulted student, who claimed she was never informed about the outcome of her own Title IX case, while the accused men returned to campus. The Cornell Daily Sun is calling for answers on this matter, as is the Foundation.

“Survivors deserve to be believed and kept informed. Silence protects no one. To her: we support you,” concluded the Joyful Heart Foundation.

In another Instagram Story, Hargitay expressed her belief that “we actually *should* ruin the futures of adult men who drug and gang rape a woman.”

She followed this up with another Story, criticizing a fraternity group chat involving “57 men,” suggesting they failed to intervene during the alleged assault.

Moreover, she questioned why Cornell expelled students who protested against genocide while allowing the alleged rapists to remain on campus.

Star of Heated Rivalry Hudson Williams also demanded action against the Cornell fraternity members, stating, “arrest them. f— them and f— Cornell too,” alongside images of the seven accused men.

Josh Gad made serious remarks in an Instagram post where he criticized Cornell University for how they handled the allegations. He expressed disbelief that students accused of such heinous acts could receive merely minor disciplinary actions like writing essays, calling it insanity.

Gad continued, asserting that these young men forfeited their futures by committing violent acts against a woman, describing it as an evil act that any reasonable person should understand is wrong.

In an emotional turn, he related the Cornell incident to broader societal issues regarding accountability in cases of alleged sexual misconduct, implying a consistent failure to address such violations across various societal levels.

Jameela Jamil also chimed in, suggesting that the accused students “shouldn’t be allowed” to have “penises” anymore, as they misused them. She added that she believed legal consequences, including imprisonment and severe penalties, were essential.

Florence Pugh shared her distress upon hearing about the allegations, describing her feelings as “uneasy and sick and anxious” and labeling the situation a “horrific act.”

In a more extensive effort, former South Park writer Toby Morton launched a dedicated website titled “The Cornell 7” to keep track of the woman’s allegations, her lawsuit, and the university’s responses.

An attorney representing the woman, known as Jane Doe in the lawsuit, revealed that the initial investigation by Cornell led to only two expulsions among the accused, with no arrests made to date.