Hollywood actress Ashley Judd has expressed solidarity with the Cornell University student known as Jane Doe, who has accused seven Chi Phi fraternity members of sexually assaulting her in 2024, and with other women who have experienced sexual violence.
Judd shared a video on Instagram in which she addressed the Cornell survivor and women from her own sorority at the University of Kentucky, reflecting on reports of sexual assaults that she said had remained largely unaddressed for decades.
“Dear Sisters, we have wondered for almost forty years how you are,” Judd said, reading a statement signed by herself and several other members of Kappa Kappa Gamma’s Beta Chi chapter.
She said the group had remembered women who had allegedly been harmed by fraternity members and questioned whether those survivors had received medical and psychological support, access to reproductive healthcare and the opportunity to continue their education.
Judd also referred to the current Cornell case and another sexual assault case involving a student at Louisiana State University, saying the cases had brought those earlier experiences “searingly” back into their conversations.
“You do not owe us or anyone your story,” she said, stressing that survivors should have control over their own narratives and identities.
Judd criticised what she described as institutional silence that had prevented accountability and said the women deserved justice, support and care. She also invited members of Greek life across generations and campuses to reflect on women they knew had been harmed and on how institutions responded.
The actress said the group had deliberately avoided identifying the fraternities involved in the older incidents to protect the privacy of survivors.
The Cornell case stems from an alleged sexual assault in October 2024 involving a 20-year-old student. In a civil lawsuit filed in September 2026, Jane Doe alleged that seven Chi Phi members drugged and sexually assaulted her at the fraternity house. The allegations have not resulted in criminal convictions.
Cornell previously conducted an internal disciplinary process that resulted in sanctions against some of the students. The criminal investigation, which initially did not lead to charges, was reopened in September following renewed scrutiny surrounding the lawsuit. New York authorities have since moved to pursue the matter further, with the case expected to be presented to a grand jury.
Judd’s post also drew an unexpected response from actress Sharon Stone, who commented, “Please DELETE THIS POST.” The comment prompted confusion among users, with several asking Stone to explain why she wanted the post removed.
The wider Cornell case has generated significant public discussion, including a social-media solidarity campaign supporting Jane Doe and renewed scrutiny of how the university and law-enforcement authorities handled the original allegations.