Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Guest Arrested for Attempted Rape at Standard Hotel
By
John Del Signore
Published Nov 11, 2009
Modified Nov 11, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Nov 11, 2009
Modified Nov 11, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
An Australian businessman was arrested at The Standard Hotel Saturday after allegedly trying to rape a chambermaid. The unidentified 28-year-old woman claims the assault occurred after she began cleaning Matthew Moorhouse's $400-a-night room at 4:25 p.m. "He just asked me, 'Where are you from? How long have you been here?'" Then Moorhouse, 42, allegedly asked her if she had a boyfriend. When she said no, "He asked me, 'Do you think I'm handsome?' He went to hug me. And then he pushed me onto the bed."
"I said, 'No!' And then he continued to kiss my face," the maid tells the Post. Fortunately, her screams were heard by another hotel worker, who banged on the door. "I screamed, 'OK, come in please!'" says the woman, who ran to hotel security. Police later arrested Moorhouse in his room; he's charged with attempted rape, sexual abuse and unlawful imprisonment, and remains locked up in lieu of $20,000 bail.
Moorhouse, who once dated pop star Rani Kamahl, has not yet spoken publicly about the incident, but his mother tells The Courier-Mail in Australia, "I'm very concerned—anyone would be. I knew he had been arrested but had no idea it was to do with anything like this. It would certainly surprise me, because that (behaviour) is not Matthew." Since opening in January, The Standard's guests have been known for their exhibitionism, but this is the first report of violence.
Tagged
arrest
Matthew Moorhouse
meatpacking district
nyc
rape
standard hotel
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors
Neighbors had complained of traffic and loud concerts for years.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 22, 2026 at 2:49 p.m. ET
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
News
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
NYPD arrests 17-year-old in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Charles Lane
Ex-Adams aide accused of pocketing kickbacks from community program funds
By
Samantha Max
MTA to begin 6-year project to upgrade signal tech on A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .