The Upsetting Cheryl Araujo Story / The true story from the film The Accused- Live!!! 🌹🌹🌹

Summary

Jess Rose recounts the case of Cheryl Araujo, whose assault inspired the 1988 film The Accused. Rose says she learned about the case through a 2020 Troy Boy Media program and notes that the film changed some details.

The assault and trial

On March 6, 1983, Araujo was 21 and living in New Bedford, Massachusetts. After celebrating her young daughter’s birthday, she went to dinner with a friend. Later, she stopped at a bar called Big Dan’s to buy cigarettes, encountered an acquaintance, and stayed for a drink. When the acquaintance left, Araujo tried to leave too, but the bar’s remaining customers prevented her from doing so.

Rose says four men raped Araujo over roughly two hours while two others encouraged the assault. The bartender and another customer reportedly tried to call for help but were intimidated. Araujo eventually fought her way out and ran into the street, where three men stopped and helped her. They called the police and took her to the hospital.

All six men were arrested. Four were convicted of aggravated rape; the two accused of encouraging the assault were acquitted. Rose emphasizes that the longest sentence served by any of the convicted men was six and a half years.

Rose criticizes the decision to disclose Araujo’s name during the televised trial, arguing that public exposure and victim-blaming could deter other survivors from coming forward. She describes the defense as blaming Araujo for being out at a bar and says that parts of the local Portuguese-American community supported the defendants. The three men who helped Araujo were reportedly ostracized and threatened. Rose also recounts a tasteless Hustler magazine postcard that mocked the case.

Araujo’s later life

After the trial, Araujo moved with her partner and daughters to Miami. Rose says Araujo struggled with heavy drinking but was trying to rebuild her life and had enrolled in college.

In December 1986, at age 25, Araujo died in a car crash. Her daughters survived with injuries. The medical examiner reportedly found that Araujo’s blood-alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit.

The Accused and closing reflections

Rose briefly discusses actor Kelly McGillis, who played the lawyer in The Accused. She says McGillis had also survived a rape in 1982, though the case became public years later.

Rose closes by describing Araujo’s story as devastating and condemning the treatment she received from the defendants, the courts, the media, and the community.

Presenter: Jess Rose Other presenters or guest contributors: None identified.