Victoria Police have confirmed they are investigating allegations made by actor Ruby Rose that she was sexually assaulted by pop star Katy Perry at a Melbourne nightclub over a decade ago.
Rose first made the claims on Threads, responding to a discussion about Perry's reaction to Justin Bieber's Coachella performance. "Katy Perry sexually assaulted me at Spice Market nightclub in Melbourne," Rose wrote in the comments section.
She provided graphic details in subsequent posts, alleging that Perry "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."
In response, Perry's representative issued a strong denial, stating: "The allegations being circulated on social media by Ruby Rose about Katy Perry are not only categorically false, they are dangerous reckless lies. Ms. Rose has a well-documented history of making serious public allegations on social media against various individuals."
Police confirmed the investigation in a statement, noting: "Melbourne sexual offences 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."
Rose provided an update on April 14, writing: "Last update on this: As of this afternoon, I have finalized all of my reports. This means I am no longer able to comment, repost, or talk publicly about any of those cases, or the individuals involved. This is a standard request from the police and in many ways, quite the relief. I can start the healing process now."
Initially, Rose had expressed reluctance about involving authorities, particularly "not when I haven't even filed a report for the numerous rapes at the hands of grown men." However, she later changed her mind, stating she would be "walking into a police station to see if any of my experiences can be investigated."
This isn't the first time Perry has faced sexual misconduct allegations. In 2018, model Josh Kloss—who appeared in Perry's 'Teenage Dream' music video—accused her of yanking at his underwear without permission at a party. Around the same time, Georgian TV host Tina Kandelaki came forward with allegations of inappropriate touching and attempted kissing at an industry event.
In a 2020 interview with The Guardian, Perry addressed previous accusations, saying they were "distracting from the real [MeToo] movement." She added: "I think we live in a world where anyone can say anything. I don't want to say 'guilty until proven innocent' but there's no checks and balances: a headline just flies, right?"
The investigation remains ongoing, with police declining to comment further at this stage.