Hollywood star Florence Pugh has said she is “enraged” over a US gang rape lawsuit and has called on men to be better and speak out.
The 30-year-old expressed how horrified she was after reading about a lawsuit launched by a young woman who was allegedly drugged and gang raped while at a Chi Pi frat party at Cornell University in October 2024.
According to US media CBS news, her lawyer claimed following an investigation that only two of the accused were expelled and no-one was arrested.
The American media outlet also reported that the former student was 20 at the time and is suing the university as well as seven Chi Pi fraternity members, claiming they failed to protect her and prevent the alleged assault.
Pugh said in a post on Instagram that she felt “uneasy and sick and anxious” – and emphasised how this is a “human issue, not a women’s issue”.
She said: “This is really the moment where we need our men to be as horrified and as sickened as us.
“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?”
Following an investigation by the university, two of the seven members accused were expelled, while others received lesser sanctions including suspensions, workshops or essays.
Pugh added: “This is unacceptable.
“Every single person who knew or heard about this happening, should be looked at with serious concern. They are as evil as those planning it.
“We are not hard enough on those that want to damage human lies. I salute all those at the college that are fighting for that girl, exposing those boys and making life unbearably impossible to find joy during their terms.
“They should not be allowed to walk freely like the rest of us who treasure and care for souls.”
Pugh said she was “enraged” by schools who continue to protect boys and “repeatedly” fail women around the world for teaching men that they can “do extreme harm” without repercussions.
She added: “There is no equality until you respect our bodies. There is no equality until you stop damaging our souls.
“There is no equality until you let us live. There is no equality until we can say we feel safe. We are the life force of this earth, start f****** protecting us. Be angry for us. Please.”
Earlier this month, Cornell University released a statement and said its civil rights and student conduct office investigated the allegations and that the Xi chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity “remains barred”.
The statement continued: “We take sexual violence extremely seriously. The Presidential Task Force on Campus Sexual Assault was launched shortly after this incident and issued a report in March 2026.
“Several of the recommendations have already been implemented, while others are in development with oversight by a university implementation committee.”
The trial attorney representing the lawsuit, Thomas Giuffra, has been approached by the Press Association.
Chi Phi fraternity has also been contacted for comment.
