A lawyer for the alleged Cornell University gang rape victim slammed right-wing commentator Megyn Kelly for using her platform to be “abusive” toward women — after the former Fox News host called the alleged victim “not the most attractive gal.”
Doe, a former Cornell student, claimed in a bombshell lawsuit that she was drugged and raped by seven men at the Chi Phi fraternity house in Ithaca, New York, in 2024, when she was 20 years old. Several of the men were expelled, though none have been criminally charged. All have denied wrongdoing.
The case has the country buzzing about the topic of sexual assault on college campuses, and even prompted the host of The Megyn Kelly Show to weigh in on the alleged assault during her Monday episode. Apparently reacting to pictures and video online that purport to identify Jane Doe, Kelly, 55, said: “No one will even consider the possibility that this woman made a decision to get it on with four men total, not seven, and enjoyed it because — I’m just going to be honest, she's not the most attractive gal.”
Kelly’s rant drew ire from Doe’s lawyer, Thomas Giuffra, who called the SiriusXM host “mean-spirited” and said she was using her platform to be “abusive” to women, according to comments he made to the Daily Beast.
“When people with a following attack, it gives others permission to attack. It goes without saying that Jane Doe has been through enough,” he said.
“Ms. Kelly has publicly condemned Ms. Doe for taking two weeks to go to the police. I would ask Ms. Kelly why it took her over a decade to report unwanted sexual advances from her boss?” he questioned, referring to allegations Kelly made in her memoir that she was sexually harassed by former Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes. Kelly has previously stated that she didn’t come forward sooner because it would have been a “suicide mission” for her professionally.
Giuffra added: “Perhaps she should reflect why it is difficult for women to come forward under these circumstances and honor the courage that it takes.”
Kelly spoke at length during her radio show about Doe’s purported looks, telling listeners that Doe is “extremely beefy in her arms and legs.” Kelly speculated that Doe potentially enjoyed the situation since she was “never the most sought-after.”
“I’m not trying to be insulting,” Kelly said. “I’m just trying to tell you the narrative that is likely to have occurred here, in my opinion. And why can’t we account for that possibility? That the girl who was never the most sought-after suddenly had four guys who wanted to have sex with her. And she counted this, yeah, in her inebriated state, as a win and liked the feeling of being sexy and desired and wanted. It happens. Sorry, it does. And that’s why she kept saying yes.”
Kelly also took issue with reports that the alleged victim took several weeks to report the incident to campus police.
“Why do we have to go right to ‘she’s a victim?’” Kelly asked. “Even she took weeks to get there. It wasn’t until they told her she couldn’t go to the party. We all know that. Right? This is so disempowering to all of womankind, to all of us, to our daughters. We are capable of making decisions. She made the decision to drink and then show up at a fraternity house at 11 o’clock.”
Jane Doe filed a lawsuit against Cornell and seven former Chi Phi members last month. Despite reporting the incident to campus police, no criminal charges were filed.
The horrific allegations have captured global attention and sparked protests on the Ivy League university’s campus. New York Attorney General Letitia James has opened a criminal investigation into the allegations. Supporters of the student have also flooded the Internet with “I am Jane Doe” messages in solidarity.
The Chi Phi chapter at Cornell was shut down and the university has said it expelled some of the students and suspended others. In a statement last week, the administration bristled at the “false narrative that there were minimal consequences in this case.”
However, students have demanded further accountability. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said that Jane Doe was “failed by people and institutions,” including the Cornell police and local District Attorney Matthew Van Houten.
Hochul appointed the state attorney general last week to take over a criminal investigation that Van Houten had reopened following the lawsuit. The governor also called for an independent review of Cornell’s handling of the case.
Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff released an apologetic video Saturday, saying that Jane Doe's account “raises heartbreaking and troubling issues about sexual assault, dehumanization and aspects of party culture, alcohol and drug use.”
Kotlikoff shared his support for the independent review of the university's actions and vowed more transparency and a commitment to "finding the answers our community deserves.”
