The Rape and Death of Virginia Rappe
One of Hollywood’s biggest scandals was when aspiring model and actress Virginia Rappe died after allegedly being raped by comedian Fatty Arbuckle. Virginia Rappe and Fatty Arbuckle attended the same party on September 5, 1921, at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco. Arbuckle’s star was rising at the time. The 266-pound comic had recently secured a deal with Paramount Pictures for $1 million.
According to witnesses, Arbuckle coerced the 26-year-old — and heavily intoxicated — Rappe into sleeping with him. “I’ve waited for you for five years, and now I’ve got you,” a witness named Maude Delmont recalled Arbuckle telling Rappe.
However, when Delmont heard crying from inside the bedroom, she began pounding on the door. Arbuckle finally opened it and Delmont could see Rappe naked in bed, writhing in misery, behind him. Arbuckle stated that he simply entered the room and discovered Rappe vomiting. He stated that he had placed her in bed to assist her. And the narrative may have ended there, only Rappe died a few days later, on September 9, of a burst bladder and peritonitis.
Delmont subsequently told the cops that Arbuckle had raped Rappe, and the comedian was jailed.
Despite the fact that reporters ran wild with the story, with many claiming that Arbuckle had crushed Rappe in bed, Arbuckle denied any wrongdoing and was eventually acquitted of manslaughter. Rappe may have died as a result of a pre-existing ailment.
