Sabrina Erdely

Sabrina Erdely
Erdely in 2012
Born
Sabrina Rubin

1971 or 1972 (age 51–52)[1]
New York, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Pennsylvania
Occupation(s)Reporter, writer
Known forAuthor of defamatory Rolling Stone story, "A Rape on Campus"
SpousePeter Erdely
Children2
AwardsGLAAD Media Award (2012)
Websitesabrinaerdely.com

Sabrina Rubin Erdely is an American former journalist and magazine reporter, who in 2014 authored a defamatory article in Rolling Stone describing the alleged rape of a University of Virginia student by several fraternity members. The story, titled "A Rape on Campus", was later discredited. The magazine retracted the article following a Columbia University School of Journalism review which concluded that Erdely and Rolling Stone failed to engage in "basic, even routine journalistic practice".[2] As a result, Erdely was named in three lawsuits with demands of more than $32 million combined for damages resulting from the publication of the story.[3]

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Erdely has written about rape and bullying. Prior to the Rolling Stone article, her work appeared in GQ, Self, The New Yorker, Mother Jones, Glamour, Men's Health and Philadelphia.[4]

In November 2016, a federal court jury found Erdely was liable for defamation with actual malice in a lawsuit brought by University of Virginia administrator Nicole Eramo,[5] and Erdely was found personally responsible for $3 million in damages.[6]

  1. ^ Farhi, Paul (November 28, 2014). "Sabrina Rubin Erdely, woman behind Rolling Stone's explosive U-Va. alleged rape story". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved January 30, 2015. ...Erdely, 42, a contributing editor to Rolling Stone and a freelancer who writes frequently about crime and social issues.
  2. ^ Somaiya, Ravi (April 5, 2015). "Rolling Stone Article on Rape at University of Virginia Failed All Basics, Report Says". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 9, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  3. ^ Shapiro, T. Rees (November 9, 2015). "U-Va. fraternity files $25 million lawsuit against Rolling Stone". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  4. ^ Middleton, Josh (April 2, 2013). "Local Writer Nominated for ASME Award for Gay-Centric Story in Rolling Stone". Philadelphia Magazine. Philadelphia, PA. Archived from the original on December 9, 2014. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  5. ^ Shapiro, T. Rees (November 4, 2016). "Jury finds reporter, Rolling Stone responsible for defaming U-Va. dean with gang rape story". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 17, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2016.
  6. ^ "Jury awards $3 million in damages to U-Va. dean for Rolling Stone defamation". Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 21, 2018. Retrieved September 21, 2018.