Megyn Kelly Slammed by Lawyer After Attacking Alleged Cornell Rape Victim

Megyn Kelly faced direct pushback from attorney Thomas P. Giuffra after the SiriusXM host used her program to attack a former Cornell University student who accused fraternity members of sexual assault in 2024. The case was reopened last month after she filed a lawsuit.

Legal Response to Media Commentary

The controversy centers on remarks made by Kelly during her Monday broadcast, where she questioned the credibility of the accuser, referred to in legal filings as Jane Doe. Kelly suggested on air that the 20-year-old student might have enjoyed the encounter and remarked on her physical appearance, while also criticizing the timeline of the police report. The accuser waited three weeks to notify campus police, a delay explained in court transcripts by feelings of shame and an initial failure to recognize the event as rape.

During her show, Kelly, 55, stated on Monday, 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 went on to remark, She’s extremely beefy in her arms and her legs. She has a whole video online talking about her cankles. Kelly also asserted, 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. Assuring listeners, Kelly added, I’m not trying to be insulting. 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, Kelly regularly uses her slot on SiriusXM to give controversial opinions, but her take on the incident at Cornell was particularly ugly.

Thomas P. Giuffra, a partner at Rheingold, Giuffra, Ruffo, Plotkin and Hellman representing the plaintiff, condemned the broadcast in statements reported by thedailybeast.com. It goes without saying that Jane Doe has been through enough. He called Kelly’s missive mean-spirited, and added that she was using her platform to be abusive to women. He also pointed to Kelly’s own disclosures in her memoir regarding sexual harassment by former Fox News chairman Roger Ailes, questioning why Kelly waited over a decade to come forward publicly. Giuffra stated, Ms. Kelly has publicly condemned Ms. Doe for taking two weeks to go to the police. I would ask Ms. Perhaps she should reflect why it is difficult for women to come forward under these circumstances and honor the courage that it takes, Giuffra added.

Jane Doe Sues Cornell University and Fraternity Members

The legal battle follows months of fallout at the Ithaca, New York campus. Last month, Jane Doe filed a lawsuit against Cornell University and seven former members of the Chi Phi fraternity after the local district attorney declined to pursue criminal charges following a review of the interview summary.

Kelly Criticizes Olivia Rodrigo for Supporting Jane Doe

Kelly also used her Monday time slot to criticize musician Olivia Rodrigo after the artist posted an Instagram message supporting Jane Doe and condemning institutions that protect abusers. Kelly responded on her show by telling Rodrigo to stick to singing. Representatives for Rodrigo have been contacted for comment regarding the exchange, while SiriusXM has not responded to inquiries from thedailybeast.com concerning Kelly’s broadcast remarks.