Liang Wang, principal oboe of the New York Philharmonic since 2006, has sued Vox Media, publisher of New York Magazine, and freelance reporter Sammy Sussman for defamation.

According to a press release, the oboist is suing due to accusations published in an article published by the magazine’s online “Vulture” section. The suit alleges that the defendants knew or were reckless in not knowing the article’s accusations against Wang were false, and accuses Sussman of continuing to defame Wang even after the article was published.

The complaint requests a trial by jury and demands $100 million in compensatory damages.

In a statement, Alan Lewis, Partner at Carter, Ledyard and Milburn and attorney for Wang said, “New York Magazine published an article that was a gross departure from journalistic ethics and standards. The Corporate publisher and the author knew that the article was false because the Police records and arbitration decision cited by the article all disprove the false narrative published about Liang Wang.”

He added, “The article’s contention is that Wang put a drug into the drink of a musician so that a third musician could assault her – a defamatory claim for which there has never been a scintilla of evidence. In fact, Liang was never even accused of any impropriety by anyone in Vail – not by the police and not by the Philharmonic or any of its members. The article builds on this defamation by suggesting that Wang had previously been fired for this alleged misconduct by the Philharmonic, but as the article details with quotations from the arbitration decision, that is simply false.”

He concluded, “The story has permanently damaged Liang’s reputation, and the shockwaves throughout the industry have compromised his career, his reputation and his dignity.”

Following the report, Wang was put on a leave of absence with the Philharmonic stating he would not be rehearsing or performing with the orchestra in the immediate future. Wang has also filed a lawsuit against the New York Philharmonic demanding he gets his job back.