Cherry Kitten has removed an 'I Am Jane Doe' clothing collection after facing backlash over merchandise inspired by the sexual-assault allegations involving a former Cornell University student.
The alternative fashion brand reportedly sold clothing featuring the phrase 'I Am Jane Doe', which has become a wider social-media movement in support of the woman at the centre of the Cornell case. The woman, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, alleges she was drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple members of the university's Chi Phi fraternity in October 2024.
The collection sparked criticism online, with users questioning why an ongoing sexual-assault case had been turned into commercial merchandise.
Critics Question Turning Cornell Allegations Into Merchandise
Screenshots shared by Reddit users appeared to show Cherry Kitten promoting the collection on social media and saying that 5% of profits from the merchandise would be donated to the National Organization for Women.
The clothing brand Cherry Kitten has removed their "I am Jane Doe" collection after receiving backlash for trying to profit off a rape case and only donating 5% of the profit.
by u/Terrible_Cycle_5983 in Fauxmoi
The screenshots prompted criticism from users who argued that donating a portion of the proceeds did not address concerns about commercialising a deeply personal case. One Reddit post about the collection received more than 1,000 upvotes, while another discussion on the r/Fauxmoi subreddit also drew attention to the merchandise. 'Who wants "merch" of an assault victim?' one commenter wrote, while another suggested that people who wanted to support survivors could donate directly to organisations working with them instead.
Other users questioned why the brand would donate only a portion of its profits rather than direct the proceeds from the collection to a relevant organisation. Critics also argued that the donation itself missed what they considered the central issue: whether an alleged sexual assault should be used as the basis for a fashion collection.
using the cornell seven sexual assault as a merch idea and then donating ONLY 5% to a womens charity.. oh cherrykitten.. you’re fucked pic.twitter.com/4HGSgHKJAy
— ri (@hyevrs) October 5, 2026
Cherry Kitten subsequently appeared to acknowledge the criticism. Screenshots shared online showed a brief response from the brand saying, 'we got this wrong.' Reddit users later claimed the response disappeared from the brand's social-media account, while the collection itself was no longer available on Cherry Kitten's website.
Why 'I Am Jane Doe' Has Become a Rallying Cry
The controversy comes as the Cornell allegations have received renewed national attention.
Jane Doe filed a civil lawsuit in September against Cornell University, the Chi Phi fraternity and seven fraternity members, among others. She alleges that she was pressured to consume alcohol and ketamine before being sexually assaulted by members of the fraternity in October 2024.
The allegations have not resulted in criminal convictions, and some of the accused men have denied wrongdoing. The case remains the subject of an ongoing investigation.
The phrase 'I Am Jane Doe' has meanwhile developed into a broader show of solidarity. Supporters have used the phrase online to protect the woman's anonymity and draw attention to sexual violence and the treatment of survivors.
Queer non-binary woman with green hair says she is ‘Jane Doe’ from Cornell University.
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) October 3, 2026
‘I am Jane Doe.’ pic.twitter.com/2milxjZoVx
The criminal investigation was reopened amid mounting scrutiny of how the allegations were initially handled. New York Governor Kathy Hochul subsequently appointed Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to oversee the case.
The renewed attention reached Cornell's campus on 5 October, when more than 1,000 people attended a demonstration calling for greater accountability and changes to the university's handling of sexual-assault complaints.
Cherry Kitten Collection Removed Following Backlash
The latest controversy has instead focused attention on the decision to turn the 'I Am Jane Doe' slogan into a commercial fashion product. For critics, the issue was not simply how much money the collection promised to donate. They questioned whether merchandise connected to an ongoing sexual-assault allegation was appropriate in the first place.
The collection was no longer listed on Cherry Kitten's website as of 6 October. It remains unclear whether the brand intends to bring the designs back or whether the removal is permanent.
For now, the backlash appears to have ended Cherry Kitten's public sale of the collection, while the wider 'I Am Jane Doe' movement continues to draw attention to the Cornell allegations and broader questions about how sexual-assault cases are handled.
