Nearly two decades after the alleged incident, actor-model Ruby Rose has publicly accused pop superstar Katy Perry of sexual assault, a claim Perry’s team has strongly denied.
The allegations surfaced in a surprising place: a comment thread, and within hours, screenshots, reactions, and counter-statements flooded social media.
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Allegation posted in a comment sparks storm
The controversy began on April 12, when Rose, known for her roles in ‘Orange is the New Black’ and ‘John Wick: Chapter 2’, replied to an article discussing Perry’s reaction to Justin Bieber’s Coachella performance.
Instead of commenting on the performance, Rose made a serious allegation. She wrote that Perry had sexually assaulted her at the Spice Market nightclub in Melbourne. The message immediately caught attention and spread across platforms.
Rose later added more details, saying she was “only in my early 20s” at the time and that it had taken “almost two decades” to speak publicly. She explained that trauma and the impact of sexual assault made it difficult for her to find her voice earlier.
She also shared that speaking about “women-on-women” violence felt harder for her than speaking about male perpetrators. According to Rose, this added to the delay in coming forward. She wrote that she was grateful to have lived long enough to speak up, but said the long silence reflected the deep emotional impact of the alleged experience.
In another post, Rose described the alleged incident in graphic detail, claiming that Perry approached her while she was resting with a friend and behaved inappropriately.
Katy Perry’s team issues strong denial
On April 13, Perry’s representative responded with a firm rejection of the claims. The statement said the allegations were “categorically false” and described them as “dangerous” and “reckless lies.”
The rep also claimed that Rose has a history of making serious allegations on social media that have previously been denied by those involved.
Rose says she won’t file report, makes additional claims
Rose later clarified she is not planning to file an official report. Responding to users who linked her comments to a past disagreement, including her criticism of Perry’s song “Swish Swish” in 2017, she denied any connection. She insisted she was speaking out because the incident happened, not because of past feuds.
She also wrote that Perry was “welcome to sue” her, claiming she had photos and that the incident occurred publicly with multiple witnesses. Rose further alleged there was “psychological manipulation” in their interactions over the years, though she did not provide specifics.
In another claim, Rose said Perry had written and signed letters of recommendation for her US visa application during the 2010s.