Lzzy Hale Condemns Sexual Assault Amid Cornell Rape Investigation Reopened
Halestorm frontwoman Lzzy Hale issued a forceful statement on Tuesday, October 1, 2026, condemning sexual assault as New York state prosecutors reopened the investigation into the alleged October 2024 gang‑rape of a woman at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Hale posted an image‑text on Instagram that began, "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," and continued, "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." She added, "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), 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 Instagram post followed a civil lawsuit filed on September 16, 2026, by a Jane Doe against Cornell University. The 101‑page complaint alleges that seven fraternity members gang‑raped the plaintiff in October 2024 while she was intoxicated and unable to consent. The suit lists claims of sexual assault, battery, negligence, breach of contract, and violations of New York’s Human Rights Law. It also alleges that the accused men were allowed to mitigate their conduct by submitting essays, a detail that Hale referenced in her caption: "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." Halestorm, co‑founded by Lzzy Hale and her brother Arejay Hale in 1997, has become one of the most commercially successful American rock acts, selling over three million albums in the United States. Their 2012 single "Love Bites (So Do I)" earned the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance. The band is currently touring North America as a supporting act for BABYMETAL, promoting their 2025 album "Everest." On the night of the Instagram post, Halestorm performed at the Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre in Phoenix, Arizona, and they have additional European festival dates scheduled for the summer of 2027. Hale’s statement underscores a broader cultural push against sexual violence on college campuses and highlights the responsibility of bystanders. By explicitly naming the behavior of both perpetrators and passive observers, she aligns her platform with ongoing advocacy efforts and reinforces the message that silence constitutes complicity. The renewed investigation by New York prosecutors may set a precedent for how universities handle similar allegations in the future. Fans of both Halestorm and BABYMETAL are encouraged to follow official channels for ticket updates and to support organizations that assist survivors of sexual assault. The band’s official website provides further details on upcoming shows and avenues for charitable contributions related to the cause.
Lzzy Hale's Instagram post condemning sexual assault
