Just before a defamation trial involving former University of British Columbia professor Steven Galloway, one of his accusers, Chelsea Rooney, has issued a detailed apology, acknowledging her role in spreading unproven allegations against Galloway. The apology, which is featured in the National Post and on gallowayapologies.com, includes statements from eight others expressing regret for their actions in accusing Galloway of sexual assault.
Rooney, a defendant in the upcoming B.C. Supreme Court case, admits that her circulated communications about Galloway led others to believe the allegations were true. She also acknowledges Galloway’s denial of sexually assaulting a student referred to as A.B.
Although Galloway was never criminally charged, he lost his position as a writing professor following a university-commissioned report by retired B.C. Supreme Court judge Mary Ellen Boyd, which found the claims against him to be unsubstantiated. The Supreme Court of Canada dismissed an appeal by Galloway’s accusers in 2024, paving the way for the defamation trial.
