Kiwi actor KJ Apa has been falsely accused of sexual assault along with other Riverdale co-stars. Photo / Getty Images
Kiwi actor KJ Apa has been falsely accused of sexual assault along with other Riverdale co-stars. Photo / Getty Images
Kiwi actor KJ Apa has been falsely accused of sexual assault along with other Riverdale co-stars in a stranger's bid to prove the public "would believe anything" that is posted online.
Screenshots from various Twitter users appeared to show several anonymous accounts sharing accusations of sexual abuse against Apa, Cole Sprouse, Lillie Reinhart and Vanessa Morgan.
The since-deleted false accusations made against the stars ranged from rape to groping and sexual harassment.
However, a Twitter account by the name of Tasha walked back the allegations.
"Do you see how easy it is to lie and you guys will believe it? Vanessa Morgan and KJ Apa didn't do jack shit. You will believe anything."
She was raped and abused by Vanessa Morgan, Lili Reinhart and KJ Apa, all of them part of the Riverdale Cast, minutes later, she said that it was a joke and she was just messing to prove Cole’s innocence. The IP address of the tweets (+) pic.twitter.com/2khcnRKkes
After the tweets went viral, both Sprouse and Reinhart denied the sexual assault accusations.
"Earlier today myself and three other castmates were falsely accused of sexual offence by anonymous accounts on Twitter," Spouse wrote. "I take these accusations very seriously, and we will be working with the right teams to get to the root of it."
Okay so i’ll explain it for those who don’t understand. In the morning, a girl said she was raped by Cole Sprouse at a party in NYU (where someone said that Cole had punched someone at that party cause a guy tried to abused a girl). Hours ago, other account said (+) pic.twitter.com/O4flx13MZE
"False accusations do tremendous damage to victims of actual assault," the actor added. "Furthermore, I would never seek to silence anybody. I encourage that people look into the accusations themselves, as the events detailed were factually untrue."
"This seems to be the latest claim in a series of incidents seeking to baselessly cancel my castmates and me," he added.
Earlier today myself and three other cast mates were falsely accused of sexual offense by anonymous accounts on twitter. I take these accusations very seriously, and will be working with the right teams to get to the root of it. (1)
Meanwhile, Reinhart wrote: "I have always taken sexual assault allegations seriously. But it was proven that this account was created specifically to create false stories about me and my cast."
"I can't think of something more twisted than lying about sexual assault," Reinhart continued. "It invalidates the men and women who are brave enough to come forward with the truth. This kind of lie can ruin lives and careers – and I can call it a lie because the person who made the allegations already admitted that the stories were fabricated."
Reinhart added that she is taking "legal action" and said, "this kind of sick behaviour only harms true survivors."
I have always taken sexual assault allegations seriously. But it was proven that this account was created specifically to create false stories about me and my cast. I can’t think of something more twisted than lying about sexual assault. It invalidates the men and women who are- https://t.co/qcZMXYPNLQ
Riverdale actress Camila Mendes also came out to defend her co-stars over the allegation on her Instagram story.
"It's incredibly destructive to falsely accuse people of sexual assault, whatever point this person was trying to make about how quickly people believe what they read, it was not worth damaging the integrity of the me too movement," Mendes wrote.
"It's sickening and doesn't prove anything except that there are twist people in this world who have no concern for the consequences of their harmful actions.
Lili Reinhart and Cole Sprouse have hit back at sexual assault allegations. Photo / Getty Images
On the next slide, Mendes added, "Sending love to my castmates who had to deal with this nonsense. Love you guys."
Apa has not made any public comments about the false sexual assault accusations.
