Halestorm vocalist and guitarist Lzzy Hale has spoken out following the reopening of a criminal investigation into an alleged 2024 sexual assault involving members of Cornell University’s Chi Phi fraternity.
The investigation was reopened after the alleged victim, identified as Jane Doe, filed a civil lawsuit in September naming seven fraternity members, Chi Phi, Cornell University and several other parties. The lawsuit alleges that she was intoxicated and sexually assaulted at the fraternity house in October 2024.
New York’s Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten has since said prosecutors will present the case to a grand jury, citing additional evidence. Criminal charges were not pursued when the allegations were initially reported in 2024, with prosecutors citing the circumstances described in the woman’s original statement and the requirements of New York’s sexual assault laws. Her attorney has disputed the characterization of her original account and criticized the initial investigation.
Cornell has defended its handling of the matter, stating that it conducted an investigation and imposed sanctions that included suspensions and expulsions. The Chi Phi chapter involved has remained barred from campus, while Cornell has also agreed to an independent review of the case. The fraternity has said members understood to have been involved were expelled, while at least some of the accused have denied wrongdoing and maintained that the sexual activity was consensual.
Against that backdrop, Hale addressed the situation on social media on September 30, directing her comments not only toward those accused of participating in the alleged assault, but also toward people who may have been aware of what was happening and failed to intervene.
“If you are the kind of man who thinks it’s ok to reduce another human being to nothing more than something you can stick your dick into…there is something severely wrong with you. You are not a ‘promising young man’, you are a sick monster that needs to be punished and prevented from having contact with other humans.”
Hale then turned her attention toward alleged bystanders, arguing that awareness of an assault carries a responsibility to act.
“And if you are the kind of man who stands idly by while witnessing a rape (yes even if you saw it in a group chat you are still a witness to that rape), and choose to do nothing/say nothing…you are Not ‘the good guy’ you are an accessory to the sexual assault and also need to be brought to justice, because we don’t want your kind walking among us either.”
The Halestorm singer also criticized those in positions of authority who may have the ability to hold alleged perpetrators accountable. Her reference to a “writing assignment” appears to address disciplinary measures described in the civil lawsuit, which alleges that some students were given opportunities to mitigate punishment through written assignments. Cornell, however, has disputed claims that it failed to impose significant disciplinary consequences.
“And if you are in a position of power to hold these men accountable for their actions and do nothing, take their side, or let them off with a fucking ‘writing assignment’, you should be stripped of your power and privilege of walking among us.”
The criminal investigation remains ongoing, with prosecutors now expected to present evidence to a grand jury. The allegations contained in the civil lawsuit have not been adjudicated in court, and the accused have denied wrongdoing.
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