Hollywood actress Ashley Judd has voiced solidarity with the survivor at the centre of the Cornell University sexual assault case involving seven Chi Phi fraternity members, sharing a heartfelt video message addressed to women who may have endured similar trauma and are still awaiting justice.

The Instagram Message

On Monday, Judd posted a video to her Instagram, addressing it as an open letter to fellow sorority sisters. In the video, she said, “Dear Sisters, we have wondered for almost forty years how you are. We, the signed below, are some of your sisters of Kappa Kappa Gamma, the Beta Chi chapter, at the University of Kentucky. We know that men at fraternity houses, with whom we frequently socialized, raped you. We have talked about you for a long time. We do not even know all of your names.”

Judd posed a series of deeply personal questions to unknown survivors: “We do not know whether and how you survived…if there was conception as a consequence of these rapes, and if so, did you have access to an abortion? Did you raise a child? Did the boys transmit STDs to you? Did you receive psychological support? Medical care? Did you carry on with your university educations? We do remember.”

Acknowledging Institutional Silence

Judd drew a deliberate distinction between the privacy rights of survivors and the institutional silence she alleged had long shielded perpetrators. She said, “We make a clear distinction between your sacred right to spiritual anonymity and the institutional silence of both our fraternity and the university, that shielded the men who raped you from accountability and denied you justice. You were owed justice, support, repair.”

She called on members of Greek life across campuses and time to reflect on harm that was known and left unaddressed. The message was co-signed by several individuals, including Ashley Ciminella Judd, Ann, Mary Tripp, Andrea, Melissa, and Eliana DeAngelis, among others identified only as anonymous. Judd also noted that specific fraternity names were deliberately omitted to protect the identities of victims whose stories, she said, “are their own.”

Sharon Stone’s Controversial Comment

Actress Sharon Stone drew significant online attention after she commented on Judd’s post with a blunt demand: “Please DELETE THIS POST.” The remark triggered a wave of confusion and pushback from users. One commenter replied, “Why would she delete this post? Do you defend fraternity guys raping girls?” Others asked Stone to explain her reasoning, with one user writing, “Please clarify to those of us who may not understand why you are saying this. Even a clue would be helpful.” Stone has not publicly elaborated on her comment.

Background: The Cornell University Case

In October 2024, a 20-year-old Cornell student, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, reported a sexual assault connected to the Chi Phi fraternity. Cornell University conducted an internal investigation in 2025: 2 students were expelled, 2 were suspended, 1 had already graduated, and 2 were found not responsible. No criminal charges were filed at that stage.

In a lawsuit filed in September 2026, Jane Doe alleged that seven fraternity members drugged and sexually assaulted her at the fraternity house. The case was re-opened in September 2026 and has since gained considerable momentum on social media, with users demanding accountability and justice. This comes amid heightened public scrutiny of fraternity culture at American universities, a pattern that advocates say has persisted for decades.

Wider Context

Judd’s video also referenced what she described as events involving men at Louisiana State University and someone named Kendall, framing the Cornell case as part of a broader, long-standing pattern of sexual violence within Greek-life institutions. Notably, Judd herself is a prominent survivor and advocate, lending her statement particular public weight. The case continues to unfold, with advocates watching closely for further legal developments.