Fired New York Philharmonic Players Claim the Investigation Was Biased

Two New York Philharmonic musicians fired over claims of sexual assault and harassment are continuing to fight their dismissals. Matthew Muckey and Liang Wang both filed amended complaints against the orchestra and players union, the New York Times reported, accusing the investigations that led to their firings of bias. Muckey, the associate principal trumpet, called the investigation a “sham process calculated to achieve a predetermined finding of wrongdoing.” Meanwhile, Wang, the principal oboist, said it was “neither impartial nor open-ended.” Both musicians were fired in November 2024, effective at the beginning of the 2025 season, after initially being suspended the previous April in response to a New York report. They filed their initial suits over the suspension.

In Muckey’s amended complaint, he said he provided the orchestra’s outside investigator with Facebook messages from one of his accusers, identified as C.S., which he alleged proved their relationship was consensual. “Awwww you’re really the best 😊 thanks for everything, yes, even the sex,” read one included message. Wang also alleged in his complaint that he had a consensual long-term relationship with one of his accusers. (Both have been accused by multiple women.) The musicians also each criticized their union for not contesting their dismissals.

• [ny times]

Related

• A Hidden Sexual-Assault Scandal at the New York Philharmonic
• New York Philharmonic Dismisses Players Accused of Sexual Misconduct