The vice principal at Neptune Middle School who was filmed tossing a cup of beer at people who had been recording his wife’s rant against an apparent transgender woman’s use of a public restroom is suing them for defamation, asserting he never said a word about transgender issues.

Michael Smurro has been on leave without pay since shortly after the April incident in Galloway Township.

He says he never uttered a word about transgender issues during the encounter, and claims his reputation and career may have been irreparably damaged by such accusations.

AP wire services helped contribute to this report.