Florence Pugh Accuses Instagram of Hiding Her Post on Cornell University Gang Rape Case: “At Least We Can See What Side You’re On”

Florence Pugh accused Instagram of limiting her post condemning the allegedly drugged and gang-raped woman at Cornell University’s Chi Phi fraternity back in October 2024 by asking in a sequence of Instagram stories if she is being censored “for talking about rape.”

Pugh posted a long message on the site saying she feels “uneasy and sick and anxious” after reading about the case. Right after that, Pugh stated that she and her followers could not access her post.

“Rather worryingly, neither I or some of my followers can access the recent post that I wrote about the [Cornell University] sexual abuse,” wrote Pugh in her first Instagram story. “Why is that? Has it been taken down for others? Am I being censored for talking about rape?”

In her second story, Pugh noted that the post seemed to be partially accessible.

“Yep. It’s been partially taken down. Some people can only see the trigger warning and some people can’t swipe,” she wrote. “Great! Another lovely lesson to teach people that if you speak up about it, we will silence you! Good job I saved it. I’ll give it another go.”

Pugh also said her attempt to post her statement again met with obstacles.

“I just tried posting it again and it’s blocking me from reaching people,” wrote Pugh in her third story. “Instagram, at least we can see what side you’re on. Don’t protect rapists. It’s pathetic behaviour.”

At this point, it was unclear why the post was limited.

The case is the focus of a recently launched civil lawsuit naming Cornell University and seven fraternity members as defendants. The complaint states that the university failed to properly protect the student and punish the perpetrators. According to the complaint, only two students were expelled, and no criminal charges have been filed.

In her post, Pugh criticized men who stayed silent and institutions who protected perpetrators.

“This is really the moment where we need our men to be as horrified and as sickened as us,” wrote Pugh. “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?”

According to Pugh, everyone who knew about the assault beforehand shares responsibility for it.

“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,” wrote Pugh. “To know that a torture as violent as rape is about to happen ‘upstairs’ and not do ANYTHING ABOUT IT, is sick, cowardly and cold.”

Pugh called the assault “a killing of a soul” and expressed doubts concerning the consequences suffered by the perpetrators.

“And they’ve been let off?” wrote Pugh. “All it takes is write a quick ‘I’m so sorry I raped a girl while she was drugged with my friends, we thought it would be fine?’ essay and you’re good to go! This is unacceptable. We are not hard enough on those that want to damage human lives.”

Pugh also blamed schools worldwide.

“Colleges/schools/universities repeatedly fail women around the world,” wrote Pugh. “I’m no longer tired, I’m enraged by schools protecting boys, in fear of their futures being wrecked. What about the life that those girls then have to endure, with the knowledge that his reputation is more precious than her truth?”

Pugh concluded by calling for equality and protection for women.

“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,” wrote Pugh. “We are the life force of this earth, start f***ing protecting us. Be angry for us.”