Prominent visual artist, Joseph Awuah-Darko, has leveled accusations of sexual assault against popular painter Kehinde Wiley in a surprising development.
On March 23, Joseph Awuah-Darko, a Ghanaian artist who was mentioned in the 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 list, posted an Instagram video alleging that he was sexually assaulted by “a seminal figure in the art world” whose work he admired and who had achieved global recognition. Initially, Awuah-Darko did not name his abuser. However, in an Instagram post made yesterday, May 19, he identified the individual as renowned Nigerian-American portrait painter Kehinde Wiley. According to Awuah-Darko’s post, the alleged assaults occurred on two separate occasions — first on June 9, 2021, and then a “much more severe and violent” incident later the same year. Since Awuah-Darko came forward with these allegations, several other individuals associated with the art world have made similar claims against Wiley in Awuah-Darko’s Instagram comments and story.
Kehinde Wiley, popular for his portrait of former President Obama and considered to be one of the most prominent painters in the United States, has responded to the allegations against him. Wiley denied Awuah-Darko’s accusations of sexual assault, stating that their encounter was “a brief consensual relationship.” He further claimed to have evidence supporting his innocence and expressed his intention to work on clearing his name. According to a report by The New York Times, Awuah-Darko has filed no criminal charges against Wiley as of yet. The same report says that Wiley’s legal team sent Awuah-Darko a cease and desist letter, demanding the removal of his Instagram posts leveling these allegations.
“I thoroughly invite you to leverage your supposed credibility, your influence, your loyalists, and everything you have to gag those of us who come forward. Because I assure you, you will need it,” Awuah-Darko concluded in his Instagram post.