What happened
A defendant in a defamation case against a former University of British Columbia professor has issued an apology just days before the trial is set to begin. Chelsea Rooney, one of several accusers of former professor Steven Galloway, has stated that she now understands her conduct toward him was harmful and has apologized for communicating serious and unproven allegations against him.
Rooney's apology acknowledges that her statements caused harm to Galloway's reputation, work, personal life, and family. She expressed regret for her role in contributing to this harm and recognized that her communications led others to believe the allegations were true, despite Galloway's denial of the claims.
The apology is the latest development in a case that began in 2015 with accusations against Galloway. He sued numerous individuals in 2018, alleging defamation with false sexual assault allegations. The Supreme Court of Canada dismissed an appeal by his accusers in 2024, clearing the way for the defamation trial.
Galloway, a renowned author and former tenured professor, was fired from his job despite never being charged. A report commissioned by the University of British Columbia found the claims against him to be unsubstantiated.
