Alexander Wang calls allegations of sexual assault ‘baseless and grotesquely false’

Designer Alexander Wang has called the allegations of sexual assault he’s facing from numerous individuals “baseless and grotesquely false”.

This week, model Owen Mooney shared a TikTok video recounting his 2017 experience with Wang while at a club in New York City, where he said the designer groped him in the crowd.

Although he did not initially identify Wang, referring to him only as a “really famous fashion designer,” Mooney’s TikTok was soon met with comments both identifying Wang, and from others, who have since shared their own allegations of sexual assault against the designer.

Following numerous other reports from individuals, who shared their experiences in direct messages, modelling industry watchdog account Sh*tModelManagement (SMM) shared a series of the allegations on Instagram, where it encouraged people to show their support for those who have made allegations by unfollowing Wang and boycotting his fashion line.

“Alexander Wang is an alleged sexual predator. Many male models and trans models have come out and spoken about the alleged sexual abuse that Alexander Wang has inflicted upon them,” the account wrote. “It is important to show your support to these victims by unfollowing Alexander Wang and boycotting his clothing line.”

On Twitter, SMM shared videos and screenshots of Mooney’s videos as well as the other anonymous reports of alleged sexual assault by Wang, with the watchdog Instagram account DietPrada also reporting on the numerous accusations.

“Some claimed to have witnessed a victim being drugged by the designer, or being slipped molly or other drugs themselves without their knowledge, leading to blacked-out nights and worse,” DietPrada wrote in a caption about the allegations, adding that the New York City-based designer has built his brand around “a hard partying, anything goes ethos”.

Following Mooney’s initial video, he said on Instagram that he now wants the focus to be on “the many allegations pouring in after I shared my story”.

“Although what happened to me was unacceptable, the stories being told by other victims is the reason why I have gone public,” he wrote. “I shared an intimate story to TikTok, with no intentions of naming and shaming. But, to my surprise, I read a comment saying they knew it was about Alexander Wang.

“I was then made aware that I was not the only one who he has sexually preyed on. A number of stories had already been told, to which I then found it necessary to stand alongside these victims and say his name.”

This is not the first time that Wang has been accused of alleged sexual assault. In 2019, rapper Azealia Banks also shared anonymous reports of Wang’s alleged sexual misconduct on her Instagram Stories, which have since resurfaced on Twitter following the recent allegations.

In a statement shared with People by Wang’s representatives, the designer denied the allegations, calling them “baseless and grotesquely false accusations” and said he has “never engaged in the atrocious behaviour”.

“Over the last few days, I have been on the receiving end of baseless and grotesquely false accusations. These claims have been wrongfully amplified by social media accounts infamous for posting defamatory material from undisclosed and/or anonymous sources with zero evidence or any fact checking whatsoever,” Wang said. "Seeing these lies about me being perpetuated as truths has been infuriating.

"I have never engaged in the atrocious behaviour described and would never conduct myself in the manner that’s been alleged. I intend to get to the bottom of this and hold accountable whoever is responsible for originating these claims and viciously spreading them online."

The Independent has contacted Wang’s representative for comment.