Java Does Not Equal (!=) Not Working?

Here is my code snippet:

public void joinRoom(String room) throws MulticasterJoinException {
  String statusCheck = this.transmit("room", "join", room + "," + this.groupMax + "," + this.uniqueID);

  if (statusCheck != "success") {
    throw new MulticasterJoinException(statusCheck, this.PAppletRef);
  }
}

However for some reason, if (statusCheck != "success") is returning false, and thereby throwing the MulticasterJoinException.

Answer

if (!"success".equals(statusCheck))