Kelly's Sharp Critique of Rodrigo
Former news anchor and current podcast host Megyn Kelly has sharply criticized singer Olivia Rodrigo following the latter's decision to weigh in on a high-profile legal case concerning Cornell University. The controversy stems from a social media post made by 23-year-old Rodrigo on Sunday, October 4, in which she condemned the university's handling of allegations made by a former student regarding a group sexual assault involving fraternity members.
During the Monday, October 5, broadcast of her show, The Megyn Kelly Show, Kelly addressed the singer directly, advising her to refrain from commenting on complex legal matters. “Olivia, in sum, you don’t know what the f* you’re talking about. Shut up and stick to singing,” Kelly stated. She further remarked that the pop star should focus on her music career rather than engaging in cultural discourse, suggesting that public figures without specific knowledge of the legal intricacies should avoid making definitive statements.
Details of the Alleged Incident
The legal case involves a former student, identified as 'Doe,' who filed a complaint alleging she was subjected to a brutal assault lasting several hours in 2024. According to court filings, the incident allegedly occurred at the Chi Phi fraternity house in Ithaca, New York, on October 19, 2024. The claimant asserts that she was coerced into consuming drugs and alcohol at the fraternity house before the alleged gang rape took place.
Reports indicate that Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten previously reopened the investigation into the matter. Van Houten noted in previous statements that there was reason to believe that improper conduct occurred at the location on the night in question.
Fraternity Response and University Action
Court documents allege that members of the fraternity exchanged messages at the time of the incident that referenced the assault in derogatory terms. Although the claimant reported the incident to Cornell University authorities weeks later, no criminal charges were pursued by law enforcement at that time.
Following the reported incident, the student claimed that the university failed to provide appropriate support, eventually leading her to withdraw from the institution after she was reportedly denied a refund of her tuition. Allegations suggest that while two of the seven fraternity members involved were suspended, other participants in the alleged incident were merely required to write essays and participate in educational workshops.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit https://www.rainn.org/.