Hargitay, Williams and Others Condemn Cornell Over Cornell 7 Allegations

Mariska Hargitay, Hudson Williams and several other performers have condemned Cornell University over its response to an alleged drugging and gang-rape in October 2024. The case, widely referred to as the Cornell 7, centres on accusations by a female student against seven male students, as reported by Variety.

The woman, identified as Jane Doe, is suing her alleged assailants as well as their fraternity, Cornell University, her former sorority and others. Her account alleges she was drugged and gang-raped by the seven men. The lawsuit challenges both the alleged assault and the way institutions around her responded.

No arrests were made in connection with the alleged assault. According to the alleged victim's attorney, Cornell's own investigation resulted in only two of the accused men being expelled. The other accused students received lesser sanctions, including temporary suspensions, workshops or essay-writing assignments, as reported by Variety.

Hargitay addressed the case on Instagram in a shared statement with the Joyful Heart Foundation, the organisation she founded to support survivors of sexual assault. The statement said Cornell had failed to protect its students. It added: "We refuse for this victim to be reduced to just another story."

Hargitay also used her Instagram story to re-post two messages circulating about the case. One read: "Dear men and boys. If your friends tell you they’re gang raping someone, call the fucking police." The other read: "57 men were in that fraternity group chat. 57. Not one of them stopped it."

Williams shared a photo of the seven accused men on his Instagram story. He wrote "Arrest them" alongside the image. In a second post, he wrote: "Fuck them and fuck Cornell, too!"

Other actors criticised the disciplinary outcome in blunt terms. Josh Gad wrote on Instagram that assigning essays as punishment for alleged brutal rape meant "we have lost our fucking minds." Jameela Jamil wrote on social media that the Cornell 7 should face jail time, legal castration and removal of the shaft. Florence Pugh described the alleged assaults as a "horrific act" that left her feeling "uneasy and sick and anxious."

Attention around the case has also grown through thecornell7.org, a website launched by former South Park writer Toby Morton. The site is dedicated to documenting Jane Doe's account, her lawsuit and the university's response.