Australian actor Ruby Rose accused pop star Katy Perry of sexually assaulting her a decade and a half ago in Melbourne and provincial police confirmed on Wednesday they’re investigating a “historical sexual assault.”
When asked about Rose’s claims, Victoria Police Sgt. Julie-Anne Newman told NBC News she was unable to discuss specifics about the matter due to “privacy protocol,” but police confirmed a probe had been launched.
“Melbourne Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team (SOCIT) detectives are investigating a historical sexual assault that occurred in Melbourne in 2010,” according to a Victoria police statement.
“Police have been told the incident occurred at a licensed premises in Melbourne’s CBD. As the investigation remains ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”
In the Australian state of Victoria, there is no statute of limitations on reporting a sexual offense.
Rose, 40, is best known for her work on “Orange Is the New Black” on Netflix, “Batwoman” on The CW and the movie “John Wick: Chapter 2.”
A representative for Perry, 41, declined to comment to NBC News on Wednesday about the investigation.
But in a statement released earlier this week, Perry’s team denied the allegations.
“The allegations being circulated on social media by Ruby Rose about Katy Perry are not only categorically false, they are dangerous reckless lies,” the statement read. “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.”
Rose has previously made allegations she was mistreated on the set of “Batwoman,” which Warner Bros. Television has denied.
In a series of since-deleted posts on Threads, Rose on Sunday night posted, “Katy Perry sexual assaulted me at spice market nightclub in Melbourne.”
“I was only in my early 20s.I’m now 40. It has taken almost 2 decades to say this publicly,” she wrote in another deleted 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.”
Rose posted on Monday that she would contact police about the matter, then followed up on Tuesday to say she had “finalized all my reports” and could no longer publicly speak about the case.
