Kehinde Wiley, Known For Famous Portrait Paintings Of Barack & Michelle Obama, Claims He Had A ‘Consensual Relationship’ w/ Ghanaian Artist Joseph Nana Kwame Awuah-Darko Following Sexual Assault Accusations

Joseph Awuah-Darko, Kehinde Wiley

Kehinde Wiley, Known For Famous Portrait Paintings Of Barack & Michelle Obama, Claims He Had A ‘Consenual Relationship’ w/ Ghanaian Artist Joseph Nana Kwame Awuah-Darko Following Sexual Assault Accusations

Portrait painter Kehinde Wiley is denying claims that he sexually assaulted his colleague Joseph Nana Kwame Awuah-Darko.

The New York native alleged that he had a “consensual relationship” with the England born artist, shortly after being accused of assault.

Kehinde Wiley

In response to the allegation, Kehinde Wiley, 47, wrote on a post to Instagram:

“Someone I had a brief, consensual relationship with three years ago is now making a false accusation about our time together. These claims are not true and are an affront to all victims of sexual abuse. I have no idea why he has decided to target me in the way – particularly when there is a litany of evidence showing his claims are false,”

Without addressing him by name, Kehinde Wiley went on to state that he hopes Joseph Nana Kwame Awuah-Darko, 27, “gets help”, and asked for privacy while he “works to clear” his name. The painter’s post comes after the Ghanaian artist claimed he was assaulted by Wiley at an event back in 2021. Awuah-Darko opened up about the alleged abuse in several posts on his Instagram, writing:

“On 9th June 2021 – I was sexually assaulted by @kehindewiley. It almost destroyed me,” 

Joseph Nana Kwame Awuah-Darko

He continued:

“In the first assault, I was inappropriately groped by Kehinde Wiley who proceeded to grab my buttocks with his hands before then saying something along the lines of “what is this thing.” This happened in front of another dinner guset, while I was politely ushering them both up flights of stairs,”

Awuah-Darko went on to claim that Wiley’s actions were “categorically unwelcome and unprovoked”, alleging that the two barely knew each other. The artist then stated that a “much more severe and violent” assault happened later that evening, though he did not go into further detail. As to why it’s taken him so long to come forward, Awuah-Darko wrote that he was intimidated by Wiley’s status as a gay man and because of prevalent anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiment in Ghana.

Kehinde Wiley, Barack Obama

Awuah-Darko has also since responded to Wiley’s claim that they had a consensual relationship, writing in a statement:

“Reconciling with the painful reality of Kehinde’s assault against me was something that I only accepted in late October 2023, when I confided in one of my best friends, who is a gallerist. That is how recent my acceptance of my assault was and after years of therapy over time…My relationship with Kehinde in months and moments prior to my epiphany of the abuse I experienced under his hand, would have been friendly and even cordial; whether it was the birthday party he invited me to or discussions about the possibility of meeting. Much like his OTHER VICTIMS”

Additionally, Awuah-Darko also claims to now been in contact with at least 3 other individuals who allege they were also sexually assaulted by Kehinde. Both parties have made clear their intentions to pursue legal action.

[VIA]

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