Musician from the NY Philharmonic Accused of Sexual Assault Takes Legal Action to Reclaim Position

In a recent lawsuit filed against the New York Philharmonic, horn player Matthew Muckey is seeking to be reinstated in his position, claiming that a sexual assault allegation against him was consensual and that no drugs were involved. The alleged incident, which first surfaced in a New York magazine article, led to Muckey being barred from performing with the orchestra and has caused negative press. Muckey argues that his firing violates the lifetime appointment promised in his contract. The lawsuit states that investigations by authorities did not lead to prosecution, but the negative publicity has caused the musicians’ union to withdraw their support. Muckey’s troubles began in 2010 during a residency in Vail, where he allegedly assaulted fellow musician Cara Kizer, leading to his termination in 2018. Muckey was later reinstated through an arbitration process, but following the resurfacing of the allegations in 2024, he was again barred from performing. Muckey is now seeking legal action to force the Philharmonic to reinstate him and to hold the musicians’ union accountable for their lack of support. The lawsuit underscores the ongoing debate around sexual misconduct allegations and their impact on individuals’ careers in the wake of the #MeToo movement.

Source
Photo credit uk.news.yahoo.com