What happened between Katy Perry and Ruby Rose? Inside their ongoing dispute
What happened between Katy Perry and Ruby Rose? Inside their ongoing dispute
Brianna ZiglerFri, September 25, 2026 at 12:30 AM UTC
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Katy Perry; Ruby RoseCredit: Stephanie Augello/Variety via Getty; Frank Micelotta/FOXKey Points -
Ruby Rose’s ongoing dispute with Katy Perry was briefly referenced on the season 5 premiere of Fox’s Special Forces.
In April 2026, Rose alleged that Perry sexually assaulted her at a Melbourne nightclub 16 years earlier.
Perry denies the allegations, with a representative calling them “dangerous, reckless lies.”
Ruby Rose is one of 15 contestants on season 5 of Fox’s Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, and the former Batwoman actress is already seeing the ghosts of her past (and present) surface in the Malaysian jungle.
During the premiere, fellow contestant Oliver Hudson briefly brings up the ongoing dispute between Katy Perry and Rose over an incident that Rose alleges happened between them more than 15 years ago. Headlines have been swirling since spring 2026 over Rose’s allegation that Perry sexually assaulted her in a Melbourne club in 2010. (A representative for Perry denied the allegations, characterizing them as “dangerous, reckless lies.”)
“I am very, very good at seeing through people. After everything that has harmed me in the past, I might sit and go, ‘Oh, there’s something here I don’t trust,’” Rose says during the episode, which also finds her reflecting on the injury she says she sustained while on the set of Batwoman.
But what exactly happened between the Australian model and actress and the “Woman’s World” singer? Keep reading for the comprehensive breakdown of the ongoing dispute between the two stars.
What did Ruby Rose allege about Katy Perry?
Katy Perry at the Tribeca Festival’s World Premiere of ‘Katy Perry: The Lifetimes Tour - Live from Paris’ in 2026; Ruby Rose attends FOX’s ‘Special Forces’ Season 5 red carpet in 2026Credit: Stephanie Augello/Variety via Getty; Frank Micelotta/FOX
In April 2026, Ruby Rose responded to a Threads post made by Complex Music that mentioned Perry. Rose wrote, “Katy Perry sexual assaulted me at spice market nightclub in Melbourne. Who gives a s--- what she thinks.”
Rose then responded to various other commenters, further elaborating on the alleged incident. “She didn’t kiss me,” she wrote in response to someone who referenced Perry’s hit track “I Kissed a Girl.” “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 vomitted on her.” [sic]
“I was only in my early 20s. I’m now 40. It has taken almost 2 decades to say this publicly,” Rose went on to say in another post. “Though I am so grateful to have made it long enough to find my voice, it just shows how much of an impact trauma and sexual assault takes. Thank you for seeing me.”
It wasn’t the first time Rose posted about Perry online. In 2017, when rumors swirled about a feud between Perry and Swift, Rose shared posts on Twitter criticizing Perry’s song “Swish Swish” and taking shots at her sales figures. Rose, who was friends with Swift at the time, said she got “so triggered when I think bullies don’t get held accountable and it makes me think I should say something.”
How has Katy Perry responded to Ruby Rose’s allegations?
Katy Perry visits Louvre Abu Dhabi ahead of the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2025Credit: Dave Benett/Getty
In a statement given to Entertainment Weekly, a representative for Perry said, “The allegations being circulated on social media by Ruby Rose about Katy Perry are not only categorically false, they are dangerous, reckless lies,” adding, “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.”
The following day, Perry took to Instagram Stories to share a cryptic message. She posted an image of her 2013 song “By the Grace of God” with the caption, “i love you.”
The song, from her album Prism, was written about Perry’s divorce from Russell Brand and her efforts to recover from that difficult period, with lyrics about finding the strength to move forward and how “the truth will set you free.”
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Are police investigating Ruby Rose’s allegations?
Katy Perry attends the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Opening Night at Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in 2026Credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
As of April 15, 2026, Victoria Police confirmed they were investigating Rose’s sexual assault allegation. In a statement obtained by EW, a representative for Victoria Police relayed that “Melbourne Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team (SOCIT) detectives are investigating a historical [alleged] sexual assault that occurred in Melbourne in 2010.”
“Police have been told the [alleged] incident occurred at a licensed premises in Melbourne’s [central business district],” the statement continued, adding that “the investigation remains ongoing” as of April 15. The previous day, April 14, Rose had confirmed that she had spoken to Australian authorities about the incident.
“As of this afternoon, I have finalized all of my reports,” she wrote on Threads. “This means I am no longer able to comment, repost, or talk publicly about any of those cases, or the individuals involved. 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. I can start the healing process now. And temporary move forward.” [sic]
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Initially, when a Threads user inquired why Rose hadn’t gone to the police at the time of the alleged incident, she replied that she hadn’t been “interested” in filing a report “when I haven’t even filed a report for the numerous rapes at the hands of grown men.”
“But she is more than welcome to sue me (she won’t, because it happened, I have photos and it was literally in public and witnessed by multiple people),” she continued. “Plus there is so much more that happened in the years leading up to her silly song she won’t want me discussing. The psychological manipulation was strong with that one.”
Has anyone else spoken out about the alleged incident?
Ruby Rose in ‘Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test’ season 5Credit: Pete Dadds/ FOX
A former manager at the Melbourne nightclub where the alleged incident took place spoke out about the night in question around the same time that it was revealed Perry was under investigation.
While the unnamed former manager said he did not witness the alleged incident because the women were sitting in a VIP area, he recalled Rose and Perry arriving together at Melbourne’s Spice Market along with several other friends. He did, however, remember other details from the night.
“It was a security nightmare because there were 600 people there and Katy kept coming out and dancing with everybody and going right in the middle of the mosh pit,” he told the Herald Sun. “[Rose and Perry] were drunk; they weren’t paralytic or anything, just like any other person drinking at a nightclub.”
Because they were celebrities, the man said that “we didn’t want someone taking photos of them drunk like that,” so staff eventually escorted the women out through the back of the club and into a car together.
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
