American fashion designer Alexander Wang has been accused of multiple sexual assaults.
Last week, Instagram handle Shit Model Management posted a video on TikTok of Owen Mooney, a British model, who claimed that the designer groped his crotch at a nightclub in New York. The public allegations of Mooney are from a party that took place in 2017. After the model told his side of the story, many people anonymously came forward to with similar accusations, which was documented on Instagram stories of the handle. Shit Model Management is a platform for models from across the world to share their experiences and issues about the fashion industry.
Similarly, Diet Prada also came in support and reminded its followers that rapper Azealia Banks shared anonymous posts describing the designer as a sexual predator in 2019. Wang is known for his Fashion Week afterparties, even designing clothing with slogans or phrases that represent his party habits such as his spring 2018 “Wangover” headbands are some of the many examples.
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, reported Diet Prada. Some incidents also state that the models blacked out from consuming too much alcohol at his afterparties. Many male models and trans models have described being taken advantage of such as the designer touching them inappropriately in a crowded space. Gia Garison, a trans model and actor claims that Wang assaulted her without permission. Nick, another man came forward claiming he feels embarrassed and manipulated while being blacked out.
After all these accusations, Wang issued an exclusive statement to The New York Times. He said, “Over the last few days, I have been on the receiving end of baseless and grotesquely false accusations,” the designer said. “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 . . . I 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.”
Diet Prada also shared a statement by Wang and called these claims ‘baseless and grotesquely false.’ It has been observed that no famous models or industry experts have voiced their opinions against the designer. On the other hand, Model Alliance has stood up out of respect for the accusers, offering anyone who needs support for filing formal complaints in the industry. They posted on Instagram saying: “Let’s be clear: The fashion industry’s lack of transparency and accountability leaves all models vulnerable to abuse, regardless of their sex or gender identity,” the post reads. Aside from acknowledging these allegations against the popular designer, who feels like such a powerful force in fashion, we also encourage anyone who suffers trauma from sexual abuse to speak up — your voice is being heard and we stand with you — no one is exempt from being held accountable.”
Take a look at it below.
