As police in Australia begin examining allegations made by Ruby Rose, new accounts are emerging about the night she claims she was sexually assaulted by Katy Perry nearly two decades ago.
The investigation, confirmed by Victoria Police, centers on an alleged incident at a licensed venue in Melbourne’s central business district. Authorities have emphasized that the matter remains active, declining to elaborate on specifics while inquiries continue.
“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,” a Victoria Police spokesman told The SMH and the Herald Sun.
The case gained public attention after Rose shared a series of posts on Threads in mid-April, describing an encounter she says occurred when she was in her early 20s. In one response to a separate article, she wrote, “Katy Perry sexual assaulted me at spice market nightclub in Melbourne. Who gives a s— what she thinks.”
In subsequent posts, Rose said the delay in speaking publicly reflected the long-term effects of trauma.
“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,” she wrote.
She went on to describe the alleged incident in graphic detail, claiming that Perry “saw me ‘resting’ on my best friend’s 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.”
“After it, I threw up on her. I told the story publicly but changed it to be a ‘funny little drunk story’ because I didn’t know how else to handle it. Later, she agreed to help me get my US visa. So I kept it a secret. But I DID tell y’all she wasn’t a good person.”
Rose has since confirmed that she formally reported the allegations to police, stating that doing so required her to stop discussing the matter publicly.
“As of this afternoon, I have finalised all my reports. This means I am no longer able to comment, repost, or talk publicly about any of those cases, or the individuals involved,” she shared.
She added that stepping away from public discourse was difficult but necessary.
“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. I love you all so much.”
A day earlier, she had signaled her intent to involve authorities despite uncertainty about legal timelines.
“Today I will be walking into a police station to see if any of my experiences can be investigated. I imagine they are past their statute of limitations, but all the more reason to try.”
While Rose’s account has driven the current investigation, a separate perspective has also surfaced from someone who was present that night.
A former manager of the now-defunct Spice Market nightclub in Melbourne has described the evening as chaotic and difficult to manage, recalling a crowded environment with hundreds of patrons and heightened security concerns. Speaking to the Herald Sun, he said he was on-site when Rose and Perry arrived together at the venue in August 2010.
“They came in together, they were also with Katy’s hair and make-up girl and another guy who was friends with Ruby,” he claimed. “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.”
According to the former manager, the pair spent portions of the evening in a cordoned-off VIP area known as the “Genie Bottle,” though they also moved through the venue at times. He said that while alcohol was involved, neither appeared incapacitated.
“They were in the Genie Bottle and having drinks and stuff, but were mainly in there doing their own thing,” the manager said. “I wasn’t aware of any alleged assault or someone vomiting.”
He described both women as intoxicated but not severely impaired, characterizing the situation as typical of a high-profile night at a crowded club.
Later, staff allegedly arranged for the two to leave through a less visible route to avoid drawing attention from other patrons. The manager said this decision was made to prevent photos or disruptions as they exited.
“Both had way too much to drink,” he alleged. “To avoid people taking photos of them in a state, we organized a car and driver to be waiting outside the Collins St entrance of the hotel. We escorted them out the back and up the fire exit and put them in the car together.”
He added that they may have continued their night at another venue, The Peel Hotel, though he did not witness that directly.
Perry’s representatives have denied the allegations, issuing a statement shortly after Rose’s claims began circulating online.
“The allegations being circulated on social media by Ruby Rose about Katy Perry are not only categorically false, they are dangerous, reckless lies. 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 rep said at the time.
Neither Perry nor Rose’s representatives have responded to additional requests for comment.
Following the allegations, Perry briefly addressed her audience on social media, posting “i love you” alongside an image referencing her song “By the Grace of God.” However, she did not directly mention the claims.
The nightclub at the center of the allegations, Spice Market, has since closed, leaving much of the context reliant on recollections from those who were present. As the investigation proceeds, authorities have not indicated whether charges will be pursued.
For now, the case remains in its early stages, shaped by competing accounts—one describing a traumatic encounter disclosed years later, the other recalling a crowded, alcohol-fueled night without any awareness of misconduct at the time.
Moumita Basuroychowdhury is a Contributing Reporter at The National Digest. After earning an economics degree at Cornell University, she moved to NYC to pursue her MFA in creative writing. She enjoys reporting on science, business and culture news. You can reach her at moumita.b@thenationaldigest.com.
