Artist Joseph Awuah-Darko accuses Obama portrait painter Kehinde Wiley of sexual harassment

Joseph Awuah-Darko accuses his fellow artist Kehinde Wiley of sexual assault.

In a shocking Instagram post on Sunday, the Ghanaian artist claimed that Wiley attacked him twice in June 2021.

“I was sexually assaulted by @kehindewiley. It nearly destroyed me,” Awuah-Darko wrote. “I hope my words and openness about my painful experience encourages others to come forward. I hope that whatever comes out will pave a path that not only leads to accountability, but also to reparations and collective healing for other victims.”

Wiley apparently responded to Awuah-Darko’s allegations in his own Instagram post on Sunday.

“Someone with whom I had a brief, consensual relationship nearly three years ago is now making a false accusation about our time together,” Wiley wrote. “I politely request privacy while I work to clear my name.”

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USA TODAY has contacted representatives for Awuah-Darko and Wiley for comment.

Wiley is a New York City painter who rose to stardom in the art world through his images of ordinary people – people of color from Harlem, Haiti, France and beyond – in the style of great European portraits once reserved for kings, queens and various royalty. He also painted portraits of celebrities, including Spike Lee, Carmelo Anthony and former President Barack Obama.

Joseph Awuah-Darko describes two sexual assaults by Kehinde Wiley

In his Instagram post, Awuah-Darko claimed he first met Wiley at a dinner in Wiley’s honor at the Noldor Artist Residency, which he founded in 2020.

While accompanying Wiley and another dinner guest to the bathroom, Awuah-Darko is said to have been groped by Wiley. The painter grabbed his butt and “said something along the lines of ‘What is that thing?'” Awuah-Darko said he then “defused the situation with awkward humor.”

“The act was completely unwelcome and unprovoked – Wiley had known me for barely two hours at the time and I was wearing a plain dark green kaftan,” Awuah-Darko wrote. “I was shocked and concerned for two reasons: (A) this unprompted act had occurred in Ghana at my place of work and (B) it was committed by a critically acclaimed artist who was aware of his power and appeared clearly willing to abuse it.”

Awuah-Darko said Wiley attacked him a second time, although he did not elaborate on the circumstances of the attack, only describing it as “more severe and violent.” He also claimed Wiley exhibited a “pattern of predatory behavior” that “has been treated as an open secret in the art world for some time.”

Addressing Wiley directly, Awuah-Darko concluded, “I urge you to use your supposed credibility, your influence, your loyalists and everything you have to silence those of us who speak out. Because I assure you, you will need it.”

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Kehinde Wiley apparently denies allegations of sexual assault against Joseph Awuah-Darko

Wiley seemed to condemn Awuah-Darko’s allegations against him in his Instagram post.

“These allegations are untrue and are an insult to all victims of sexual abuse,” Wiley wrote. “I have no idea why he decided to attack me in this way – especially when there is a litany of evidence showing his claims are false.”

He concluded, “I hope he gets the help he needs, whatever he’s going through.”

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers survivors and their loved ones free, confidential support 24/7 in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.

Contributor: Kerry Lengel, The Arizona Republic

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kehinde Wiley allegations: Joseph Awuah-Darko alleges sexual assault