A police investigation is underway in Australia after Katy Perry was accused of sexual assault by “Batgirl” and “Orange Is the New Black” actor Ruby Rose. The pop star has denied the allegations, calling them “reckless lies.”
The Victoria Police said in a statement to Variety: “Melbourne sexual offenses and child abuse investigation team (SOCIT) detectives are investigating [an alleged] historical sexual assault that occurred in Melbourne in 2010. Police have been told the incident occurred at a licensed premises in Melbourne’s CBD. As the investigation remains ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”
Rose came forward with the allegation on Sunday night, writing on Threads that Perry had allegedly sexually assaulted her at a club in Melbourne when they were both in their early 20s. Rose is now 40 years old, and Perry is 41.
“Katy Perry sexual assaulted me at spice market nightclub in Melbourne. Who gives a shit what she thinks,” Rose wrote in response to a post from Complex sharing Perry’s reaction to Justin Bieber’s Coachella set.
A representative for Perry denied the claim in a statement to Variety. “The allegations being circulated on social media by Ruby Rose about Katy Perry are not only categorically false, they are dangerous reckless lies,” the rep said. “Ms. Rose has a well-documented history of making serious public allegations on social media against various individuals, claims that have repeatedly been denied by those named.”
Perry’s rep did not immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment on the police investigation.
Rose elaborated on her accusation in a further post on Threads, writing in response to a fan: “She didn’t kiss me. She saw me ‘resting’ on my best friends lap to avoid her and bent down, pulled her underwear to the side and rubbed her disgusting vagina on my face until my eyes snapped open and I projectile vomited on her.”
Though Rose previously said she wasn’t interested in filing a police report about the alleged incident, she confirmed in a Threads post Tuesday night that she had “finalized all of my reports” and would no longer be able to “comment, repost, or talk publicly about any of those cases, or the individuals involved.”
Rose added, “It’s going to look like I am ignoring everything from supportive messages, to other people’s experiences, but I’m not. This is a standard request from the police and in many ways, quite the relief.”
