Victoria police are investigating allegations that American pop star Katy Perry sexually assaulted Australian actor Ruby Rose at a Melbourne nightclub more than a decade ago. The claim was made by Rose on social media earlier this week, prompting a police inquiry.
In a statement on Wednesday, Victoria police confirmed that detectives from the Melbourne sexual offences and child abuse investigation team are looking into an alleged historical sexual assault that occurred at a licensed premises in the city’s CBD in 2010. The force said it would be inappropriate to comment further while the investigation is ongoing.
Rose posted on social media that “Katy Perry sexual assaulted me at spice market nightclub in Melbourne. Who gives a shit what she thinks”. The comment was made on a post about Perry’s reaction to Justin Bieber’s set at Coachella. Rose later said she had finalised all reports to the police and would no longer comment publicly on the matter, describing it as a standard request from law enforcement.
Perry has denied the allegations through a representative, who called them “dangerous reckless lies”. The statement said 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”.
In 2010, it was reported that Perry and Rose went out in Melbourne on the night of 6 August, including to the Spice Market nightclub. Perry reportedly “crashed” a Melbourne high school formal at the Grand Hyatt, where the club was located.
