Two people who appear under pseudonyms in Rolling Stone’s article chronicling an alleged gang rape that happened at a University of Virginia fraternity party have spoken to the Associated Press. They’re the ones who supposedly discouraged Jackie from seeking help after the incident – but they’ve set the record straight.
Randall and Andy are two of the three friends a traumatized Jackie called after the alleged gang rape two years ago. According to the article, Randall suggested they take Jackie to the hospital – only to be shot down by the other two, erring on the side of social caution, scared they would be associated with “the girl who cried rape.”
But that’s according to the article – which has come under heat for its potential discrepancies in factuality
“I realized that I had been placed in the article under the pseudonym of Randall. And I couldn’t help but notice that almost everything that the article said about me was incorrect.”
That’s Ryan Duffin, or Randall. Duffin and Alex Stock, or “Andy,” spoke to the Associated Press, saying they were adamant Jackie contact the police.
“The discussion that was portrayed in there – about, you know, us not wanting to help her because then we wouldn’t be able to get into fraternity parties. I think it’s ridiculous.”
While Duffin says that something did happen to Jackie that night, they’re both unsure of the validity of the incident. However, Stock says the controversy over this story shouldn’t distract from the bigger picture.
“The thing is it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter if it’s true or not. Whether this one incident is true, there’s still a huge problem with sexual assault in the United States.”
Ryan Duffin, Alex Stock, and Kathryn Hendley, the story’s “Cindy,” have allowed the Associated Press to use their real identities for the first time.
