Alex Cooper discusses Cornell fraternity rape allegations on Call Her Daddy
On Oct. 11, Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast featured philosopher Kate Manne to discuss a lawsuit alleging a 2024 Cornell fraternity rape, prompting a state special prosecutor.
Alex Cooper aired a discussion about a lawsuit accusing seven Cornell fraternity brothers of raping a student on Oct. 19, 2024, and a state special prosecutor was appointed to reinvestigate. The conversation highlights ongoing campus sexual‑violence concerns and a high‑profile legal response.
In a stark moment on the Oct. 11 episode of her "Call Her Daddy" podcast, Alex Cooper confronted the alleged 2024 gang rape of a Cornell University student, a case that has already drawn a state‑level special prosecutor. Cooper, 32, opened the segment by questioning why, a decade after the #MeToo movement began, the nation is still wrestling with the same conversations about campus sexual violence.
What we know
According to Us Weekly, the alleged victim—referred to in court filings as Jane Doe—filed a lawsuit on Sept. 16 in the New York Supreme Court. The complaint claims she was drugged and sexually assaulted by seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity at a party on Oct. 19, 2024. The lawsuit has attracted national attention, prompting New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to appoint Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to reinvestigate the allegations.
Cooper framed the discussion around the broader pattern of campus rape, noting that "more than one in five women have experienced rape" and that many women can see themselves in Jane Doe’s story. She emphasized that the tools, research, and language to address sexual violence exist, yet the dialogue remains unchanged.
"It is exhausting. And more importantly, it is infuriating," Cooper said.
To help unpack the legal and philosophical dimensions, Cooper invited Kate Manne, an Australian philosopher and Cornell professor since 2013. Manne, 43, said she believed the plaintiff's account.
"For the record, I believe Jane Doe," Manne said.
Legal analyst Tre Lovell, a Los Angeles‑based civil trial attorney, told Us Weekly that high‑profile lawsuits often trigger criminal investigations. He said the men accused are likely to face criminal charges, though conviction remains a separate question.
The episode also reminded listeners of resources, directing anyone who has been sexually assaulted to the National Sexual Assault Hotline (1‑800‑656‑HOPE).
Us Weekly did not name the accused men. According to the outlet, the allegations are so far part of a civil lawsuit and a reopened investigation; Lovell's comments refer to possible future charges.
Sources
Photo: Michal Dziekonski / Pexels (illustrative)