Megyn Kelly has publicly criticized Olivia Rodrigo after the pop star voiced her support for the woman at the center of the controversial Cornell 7 lawsuit.
During her SiriusXM show on Monday, Oct. 5, Kelly took aim at Rodrigo’s comments and argued that the singer should not be weighing in on a legal case she may not fully understand.
Kelly’s remarks came one day after Rodrigo shared a statement on Instagram supporting the unnamed woman, known publicly as Jane Doe, who has accused seven men of sexual assault at a Cornell University fraternity house.
Olivia Rodrigo Speaks Out in Support of Jane Doe
Rodrigo addressed the controversy through an Instagram Story on Sunday, Oct. 4.
The “drivers license” singer expressed solidarity with Jane Doe and criticized institutions that, in her view, fail to adequately protect women who report sexual violence.
Rodrigo said she stood with Jane Doe and described her as courageous, while also calling for accountability and meaningful change.
Her comments came amid a lawsuit filed against Cornell University by the student, who alleges that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by seven men during a fraternity party in October 2024.
The allegations have not been proven in court, and the men accused in the case should be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Megyn Kelly Responds to Olivia Rodrigo
Kelly strongly objected to Rodrigo’s public statement and questioned whether the singer had enough knowledge of the case to make such claims.
During her show, Kelly told Rodrigo to stop commenting on the controversy and focus on her music career.
She also criticized Rodrigo’s music and suggested that she could examine the singer’s lyrics and public messaging if Rodrigo continued speaking about political and cultural issues.
Kelly’s comments quickly became part of the wider online debate surrounding the Cornell case, with attention shifting from the lawsuit itself to the clash between the television host and the Grammy-winning pop star.
What Is the Cornell 7 Lawsuit About?
The lawsuit involves allegations surrounding an incident at a Cornell fraternity house in 2024.
According to the complaint, Jane Doe alleges that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by seven men. She further claims that Cornell failed to properly protect her and handled the disciplinary process in a way that favored the accused students.
The lawsuit alleges that two of the men were expelled following a university investigation, while five others received less severe disciplinary consequences.
The complaint also alleges that some of the accused students submitted written statements or essays as part of the disciplinary process.
Cornell University and the defendants’ responses to the allegations are an important part of the ongoing legal proceedings, and the claims remain allegations rather than established facts.
Other Celebrities Have Spoken About the Case
Olivia Rodrigo is not the only celebrity to publicly address the controversy.
Actors including Florence Pugh, Mariska Hargitay and Josh Gad have also used their platforms to comment on the situation and express support for the woman involved.
The growing number of celebrity statements has brought additional public attention to the lawsuit and sparked debate over how universities handle allegations of sexual assault and disciplinary proceedings.
For now, the legal case remains ongoing, while the dispute between Megyn Kelly and Olivia Rodrigo has added another high-profile layer to the controversy.