Megyn Kelly attacks Cornell’s Jane Doe’s rape allegations – and targets her looks

0

Por Isabel Keane — – World RSS Feed

  1. News
  2. World
  3. Americas

Megyn Kelly attacks Cornell’s Jane Doe’s rape allegations – and targets her looks

‘She’s probably thrilled to be so admired because she clearly didn’t grow up the incredibly beautiful one’

Isabel Keane Tuesday 06 October 2026 15:06 BST

  • Bookmark

Bookmark popover

Removed from bookmarks

Close popover

Megyn Kelly launches into attack on Cornell victim on her looks
Megyn Kelly launches into attack on Cornell victim on her looks

Independent Membership

Become an Independent member to bookmark this article

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today.

Join today

Already a member?
Log in

Your support helps us to tell the story

Read more Support Now

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference. Read more

Right-wing commentator Megyn Kelly launched an attack on the alleged Cornell University gang rape victim, calling her “not the most attractive gal.”

A former Cornell student claimed in a bombshell lawsuit, in which she is only identified as Jane Doe, 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.

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.

Several of the men were expelled, though none has been criminally charged. All have denied wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, Kelly, 55, questioned during The Megyn Kelly Show on Monday whether the student put herself in the alleged situation because she was seeking attention.

Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly called the alleged Cornell gang rape victim ‘extremely beefy in her arms and legs’ while discussing the case open image in gallery
Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly called the alleged Cornell gang rape victim ‘extremely beefy in her arms and legs’ while discussing the case ( The Megyn Kelly Show/SiriusXM )

Apparently reacting to pictures and video online that purport to identify Jane Doe, Kelly 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.

“She’s extremely beefy in her arms and her legs. She has a whole video online talking about her cankles,” Kelly claimed.

“And she possibly enjoyed being ‘admired.’ This is how women make these mistakes. ‘Admired,’ ‘wanted,’ some women even foolishly say ‘loved’ by these guys at Cornell. But this is probably a first for her. She’s probably thrilled to be so admired because she clearly didn’t grow up the incredibly beautiful one.”

“I’m not trying to be insulting,” Kelly added. “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.

Students have held large-scale protests on Cornell’s campus in response to the university’s handling of the case open image in gallery
Students have held large-scale protests on Cornell’s campus in response to the university’s handling of the case ( Reuters )

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.”

More about

Megyn KellyCornell Universityjane doesexual assault

Most popular

    Popular videos

      Bulletin

        Read next

          Fonte: – World RSS Feed

          Deixe um comentário

          O seu endereço de email não será publicado. Campos obrigatórios marcados com *