Lzzy Hale Criticizes Defendants in Cornell 7 Rape Case

Lzzy Hale shared an unequivocal message regarding a recent civil lawsuit filed by a former Cornell student who alleged she was drugged and gang raped in 2024.

“If you are the kind of man who thinks it’s ok to reduce another human being to nothing more than something you can stick your d–k into … there is something severely wrong with you,” Hale wrote on Instagram Wednesday (Sept. 30) regarding the case. The case has been reopened following public outrage sparked by details in a bombshell story published by the student newspaper, the Cornell Daily Sun, and outlined in the victim’s civil lawsuit. “You are not a ‘promising young man,’ you are a sick monster that needs to be punished and prevented from having contact with other humans.”

Hale responded to the revived case in which a plaintiff identified as Jane Doe alleges that seven then-members of the Chi Phi fraternity gave her drugs and alcohol before repeatedly sexually assaulting and raping her in October 2024 when she was 20 years old. The fraternity members also allegedly created a Snapchat group to encourage other members to join the assault, NBC News reported.

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According to CBS News, Doe reported the alleged assault to campus police in November 2024, but the Tompkins County District Attorney’s office declined to pursue criminal charges against the alleged attackers.

The case details prompted national outrage and calls for a new investigation. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Thursday (Oct. 1) that she appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to lead a new investigation.

Hale expressed further fury in her post, writing, “And if you are the kind of man who stands idly by while witnessing a r*pe (yes even if you saw it in a group chat you are still a witness to that r*pe), and choose to do nothing/say nothing … you are NOT ‘the good guy’ you are an accessory to the sexual assault and also need to be brought to justice, because we don’t want your kind walking among us either.”

The Halestorm singer also directed comments at people in positions of power regarding accountability for the alleged perpetrators. “[If you] do nothing, take their side, or let them off with a f–king ‘writing assignment,’ you should be stripped of your power and privilege of walking among us.”

According to NBC News, the seven men involved were not arrested or charged and received sanctions ranging from a writing reflection paper to university suspension and expulsion.

On Sept. 21, Cornell issued a statement acknowledging Jane Doe’s lawsuit and calling the allegations “deeply disturbing.” The university stated that its Office of Civil Rights and Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards “investigated and adjudicated the allegations consistent with university policies.” Cornell added that the Xi chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity remains barred from campus, though federal privacy laws under FERPA prohibit the school from “disclosing specific information regarding individual students,” preventing Cornell from making a public statement on other disciplinary measures. The university stated it will respond in detail through the legal process.

“We take sexual violence extremely seriously,” the statement continued. (See Cornell’s website to read the university’s initial 2024 statement on the incident and its updated FAQ on the allegations.)

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According to CNN, lawyers for three of the accused men released statements denying any wrongdoing. ABC News reported that an attorney for one accused student denied the allegations, stating the incident detailed in the lawsuit “did not happen. At bottom, [his client] never sexually assaulted or even touched the plaintiff in any way. Period,” attorney Jeremy Saland said. “We look forward to confronting the plaintiff in a court of law … with both the evidence and her own words.”

Another alleged participant denied sexual activity and drug use through his attorney, while acknowledging a message included in the complaint. “I did not participate in any sexual activity or drug use. I was not found responsible by Cornell for any of the accusations involving sexual activity and drug use for which others received serious consequences,” he stated. “I thoughtlessly engaged in Snapchat and briefly stopped in the room where misconduct happened but not when it happened.”

If you or anyone you know needs support, you can reach out to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. The organization provides free, confidential support to sexual assault victims. Call RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE) or visit the anti-sexual violence organization’s website for more information.