Joseph Awuah-Darko, a prominent Ghanaian artist, has accused American painter Kehinde Wiley of sexual assault. Wiley, best known for his 2018 portrait of President Barack Obama, allegedly assaulted Awuah-Darko twice during an event in Ghana in 2021.
In an Instagram post on May 19, Awuah-Darko recounted the incidents, which took place on June 9, 2021, at a dinner hosted by Ghana’s Creative Art Council at the Noldor Artist Residency in Accra. He claimed that Wiley groped his buttocks in front of other guests and that the second assault was “much more severe and violent,” though he did not provide further details.
Awuah-Darko stated that it took him several months to come to terms with the experience, describing the emotional turmoil and danger of reporting such an incident in West Africa, where LGBTQ+ individuals often face persecution.
Wiley has denied the allegations, asserting that he had a brief, consensual relationship with Awuah-Darko and provided screenshots of their communications as evidence. He called the accusations false and defamatory, vowing to pursue all legal options to clear his name. Wiley also expressed confusion over why Awuah-Darko would make these claims, noting their continued interactions and Awuah-Darko’s attendance at his events.
Awuah-Darko emphasized that his accusation is a stand against all forms of sexual assault and abuse of power, hoping it would encourage others to come forward with their stories.
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