Florence Pugh Accuses Instagram of 'Protecting Rapists' After Cornell Assault Post Is Restricted

Actress Florence Pugh accused Instagram of 'protecting rapists' after the platform restricted a post in which she spoke out about sexual assault allegations involving former Cornell University students, prompting the actress to question whether she was being deliberately silenced.

The 30-year-old star said some followers were unable to access her full statement about a civil lawsuit filed by a former Cornell student, while others could reportedly see only a trigger warning or were unable to swipe through the post. Instagram initially placed a sensitive-content warning over the material before Meta later removed the restriction following a review.

Florence Pugh Questions Instagram 'Censorship'

Pugh raised concerns after sharing a lengthy statement on Sunday, 27 September, about allegations that a former Cornell University student was drugged and sexually assaulted by fraternity members in October 2024.

'Why is that? Has it been taken down for others? Am I being censored for talking about rape?' Pugh asked after discovering problems accessing the post.

She later said it had been 'partially taken down,' claiming some users could only see the trigger warning while others could not swipe through the slides.

Pugh saved the statement and attempted to share it again, but said she continued experiencing problems reaching users.

Pugh Accuses Instagram of 'Protecting Rapists'

The actress escalated her criticism after trying to republish the statement.

'I just tried posting it again and it's blocking me from reaching people,' she wrote, before adding: 'Instagram, at least we can see what side you're on. Don't protect rapists. It's pathetic behaviour.'

Meta subsequently said the warning had been applied under rules covering posts that describe sexual violence and exploitation. After another review, the company determined Pugh's post qualified for a 'newsworthy allowance' and removed the sensitive-content label.

What Are the Cornell Sexual Assault Allegations?

The controversy stems from a civil lawsuit filed by a woman identified as Jane Doe, who alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted by seven students at the Chi Phi fraternity house at Cornell University in October 2024.

The lawsuit names Cornell University, fraternity organisations and seven current or former students among the defendants and seeks damages over the alleged assault and institutional response.

The allegations have not been proven in court. The case has also returned to criminal scrutiny, with Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten announcing that his office had reopened its investigation and would present evidence to a grand jury.

Florence Pugh Calls on Men To Speak Out

Pugh said reading about the allegations left her feeling 'uneasy and sick and anxious' and urged men to become more vocal about sexual violence.

'This is really the moment where we need our men to be as horrified and as sickened as us,' she wrote.

Pugh also questioned how women could be expected to trust the phrase 'not all men' when, she argued, many men remain silent when allegations of sexual violence emerge.

Cornell Says Chi Phi Chapter Remains Barred

Cornell has said its Office of Civil Rights and Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards investigated and adjudicated the allegations in accordance with university policies.

The university said Chi Phi's Xi chapter 'remains barred from our campus' and that federal privacy law prevents it from publicly disclosing specific disciplinary information about individual students.

Cornell has said it takes sexual violence 'extremely seriously' and will respond to the lawsuit in detail through the legal process.