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Actor Says Not To Call Her Jane Doe
As thousands of women rally behind an anonymous Cornell University student who has accused seven fraternity members of rape, actress Shira Astrof is making a different kind of statement: she wants people to know her name.
The actress, who has appeared on 9-1-1 and The Office, has publicly shared her own account of surviving a violent sexual assault. She says she was attacked in 2015 by a man she met through a dating app who allegedly used a fake identity to gain her trust.
Now, as the phrase “I am Jane Doe” spreads across social media in support of the Cornell accuser, Astrof says she supports the woman's right to remain anonymous — but doesn't want her own experience hidden behind the same pseudonym.
A Different Choice
The Cornell case has sparked a nationwide show of solidarity, with women using the hashtag #IamJaneDoe to support the accuser and protect her anonymity amid efforts to identify her.
The Cornell woman, who filed a civil lawsuit against seven former fraternity members and Cornell, alleges she was gang-raped at a fraternity house in 2024. The men have denied the allegations through their attorneys, and no criminal charges were initially filed. The criminal investigation was later reopened, with New York Attorney General Letitia James appointed as special prosecutor.
Astrof's message is not a rejection of that movement. Instead, she says survivors should have the freedom to decide for themselves whether they want anonymity or to publicly tell their stories.
Astrof Says She Was Attacked After Meeting a Man Online
Astrof has previously described meeting Matthew Werner through a dating app in 2015. She says he presented himself as an international soccer player and gained her trust before attacking her inside her Los Angeles home.
According to Astrof's account, the assault left her physically and emotionally traumatized. She reported the incident to police, and investigators later connected Werner to other alleged sexual assaults involving women who had encountered him through false identities.
Astrof ultimately became the only alleged victim willing to testify against Werner after other women withdrew from the case.
A Long Fight for Justice
Astrof's journey did not end with her initial report.
She testified during court proceedings in 2023, when Werner pleaded no contest to felony assault likely to cause great bodily injury and misdemeanor sexual battery. He initially received a suspended sentence and was required to register as a sex offender.
Astrof continued monitoring his activities and providing information to authorities. After prosecutors found additional probation violations, Werner was sentenced to four years in state prison in 2026, according to PEOPLE.
Police have credited Astrof with helping bring renewed attention to Werner's conduct and encouraging other potential victims to come forward.
“Say My Name”
For Astrof, speaking publicly has become part of her recovery and her advocacy for other survivors.
She has repeatedly rejected the idea that she should remain anonymous because she was a victim.
Her message is simple: surviving sexual violence does not mean a person has to surrender their identity.
While one survivor may find protection in the name Jane Doe, another may find strength in saying exactly who she is.
For Astrof, that choice means standing in her own name — and refusing to let what happened to her define her in silence.
Source: Inside Edition
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