On December 11, model Owen Mooney accused designer Alexander Wang of sexual assault in 2017, prompting other accusations and Wang’s denial.
Owen Mooney accused famed designer Alexander Wang of groping him in a New York City nightclub in 2017. Mooney posted a series of videos (originally on TikTok) talking about his experience being sexually assaulted by an unnamed but famous designer.
“I was by myself at one point and this guy next to me obviously took advantage of the fact that no one could fucking move,” Mooney said. “And he just started touching me up. Fully up my leg, in my crotch. It made me freeze completely because I was in so much shock.”
“Then I look to my left to see who it was and it was this really famous fashion designer and I just couldn’t believe that he was doing that to me. It just made me go into even more shock. I just had to slowly move myself away.”
“Now, any time I see his name mentioned or see him with celebrity best friends, it just reminds me of what he did, and it’s a really fucked-up memory to have.”
However, Mooney confirmed the identity of his attacker when followers correctly guessed Wang, feeling the need to speak up.
“Turns out Alexander Wang is a massive sexual predator…and there’s been a load of other people that he’s done this to. So in that case, he needs to be exposed.”
The popular Instagram accounts Shit Model Management and Diet Prada reposted Mooney’s posts, prompting others to come forward and add to the list of accusations. The claims include victims being drugged with water laced with MDMA, blacking out and waking up to Wang sexually assaulting them, and ‘pantsing’ and groping victims.
These claims are also exacerbated by previous incidents where Wang’s behaviour has been called into question. In a 2016 video, the singer Florence Welch described Wang’s signature ‘party trick’ where he fed people straight vodka when he claimed it was just water.
In 2019, rapper Azealia Banks posted a series of anonymously submitted accusations against Wang in which he allegedly groped and assaulted trans women. Banks has since removed her original post but screenshots are resurfacing due to the latest accusations.
On January 5, Wang responded to the allegations in his statement to Vogue:
“Firstly, I’d like to take the opportunity to connect directly with the people who have helped me grow this brand into what it is today and address the recent false, fabricated, and mostly anonymous accusations against me. While I have always been active in my social life, frequently attending various industry gatherings, parties, and concerts where drugs and alcohol were present—contrary to what has been said, I have never taken advantage of others in a sexual manner or forced anything on anyone without consent. I also have never abused my status or fame for my own benefit. These baseless allegations were started on social media by sites which repeatedly disregarded the value and importance of evidence or fact-checking. It’s my priority to prove these accusations are untrue and are fueled by solely opportunistic motives. It is important for people to speak up and be heard, but there is a need to ensure accusations are credible, so that we don’t harm these important causes. Our team is doing everything in its power to investigate these claims and we promise to remain honest and transparent throughout that process. We are fortunate to have received an overwhelming amount of support over the last few days and are thankful to our staff, clients, and industry peers for standing by our side at this time.”
Currently, no further comments have been made by Wang or his representatives, but renowned lawyer Lisa Bloom has been hired by some accusers. The NYC-designer is famous for his penchant for partying and has been seen with celebrities like Bella Hadid, Kylie Jenner and Kendall Jenner. As the story unfolds it will be interesting to see the fashion community’s response as currently, Wang’s A-list friends and acquaintances remain silent.
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