Mariska Hargitay Joins Florence Pugh in Cornell 7 Outcry as Case Heads Towards Grand Jury

Mariska Hargitay has joined Florence Pugh and a growing chorus of Hollywood stars speaking out over sexual assault allegations involving seven Cornell University students, as prosecutors prepare to put the high-profile case before a grand jury.

The Law & Order: SVU star condemned Cornell's handling of allegations made by a former student identified as Jane Doe, who claims in a civil lawsuit that seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity sexually assaulted her in October 2024. None of the seven men has been criminally charged.

Mariska Hargitay Says Cornell 'Failed To Protect Its Students'

Hargitay shared a statement from the Joyful Heart Foundation, the organisation she founded to support survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse.

'We refuse for this victim to be reduced to just another story. Cornell has failed to protect its students,' Hargitay wrote.

The foundation said Jane Doe was allegedly never informed of the outcome of her Title IX case, adding: 'Survivors deserve to be believed and kept informed. Silence protects no one. To her: we support you.'

Hargitay, who has portrayed sex-crimes detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU for more than two decades, also re-posted strongly worded messages about the Cornell 7 allegations on Instagram Stories.

Florence Pugh, Josh Gad and Hudson Williams Speak Out

Hargitay joins Florence Pugh, who previously described the alleged incident as a 'horrific act' and said reading about the case left her feeling 'uneasy and sick and anxious'.

Josh Gad also criticised Cornell's disciplinary response, particularly reports that essay-writing formed part of sanctions imposed on some students.

'When we start setting a precedent that our girls and women can be brutally raped, and the resulting disciplinary action is to hand out (checks notes) ESSAYS... we have lost our f****** minds,' Gad wrote.

Heated Rivalry star Hudson Williams called for arrests, while Jameela Jamil issued an even more graphic condemnation of the accused men.

Cornell 7 Case Heads Towards Grand Jury

The celebrity backlash comes as Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten has reopened the criminal investigation into the October 2024 allegations.

Van Houten said his office intends to present the case to a Tompkins County grand jury with Jane Doe's cooperation. Prosecutors are examining whether evidence now available could change their original assessment.

No criminal charges followed the original investigation. Van Houten has said Doe's initial statement to police differed from allegations later made in her civil complaint, including on issues surrounding drug use, incapacitation and consent.

Cornell Disputes Claims Over Disciplinary Response

Jane Doe's lawsuit alleges Cornell failed to adequately protect her and respond to the alleged assault. Her attorney has said two accused students were expelled while others received lesser sanctions.

Cornell has disputed suggestions that essay-writing was the sole punishment given to any accused student. The university said its Title IX investigation and hearing process resulted in sanctions including expulsions and suspensions.

Cornell has declined to disclose individual disciplinary outcomes, citing federal student privacy law. It also said the Chi Phi chapter was closed in 2024 and remains barred from campus.

The civil lawsuit and criminal investigation are separate proceedings. The allegations against the seven men have not been proven in court, and the grand jury process will determine whether prosecutors have sufficient grounds to pursue criminal charges.