In an Instagram post shared on Sunday, British-Ghanaian artist and curator Joseph Awuah-Darko alleged that Wiley sexually assaulted him twice in 2021. Awuah-Darko claimed that the first incident took place on June 9, 2021, at a dinner held at the Noldor Artist Residency in Ghana, where Wiley’s work was being celebrated. Awuah-Darko, who is the founder and chairman of the Accra-based program, stated that he was “inappropriately groped” by Wiley in front of another guest, describing the action as “unwelcome and unprovoked.” He further described a second incident that day as “much more severe and violent,” without elaborating. In a subsequent interview, he claimed that a sexual encounter began consensually but escalated into Wiley forcing himself on him after Awuah-Darko expressed a desire to stop.
Awuah-Darko wrote that the assaults “almost destroyed” him and expressed hope that others would feel empowered to come forward.
Shortly after Awuah-Darko’s post, Wiley denied the allegations on his own Instagram, stating, “Someone I had a brief, consensual relationship with almost 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.”
Wiley continued, “I have no idea why he has decided to target me in this way — particularly when there is a litany of evidence showing his claims are false — but I hope he gets the help he needs for whatever he is going through. I kindly ask for privacy as I work to clear my name.”
Representatives for Wiley provided CNN with a copy of a cease and desist letter they say was sent to Awuah-Darko, demanding he immediately remove what they describe as “categorically false and defamatory” Instagram posts. The letter characterizes Awuah-Darko’s claims as “malicious” and intended to “ruin (Wiley’s) reputation for financial gain and attention.”
CNN was also shown messages between Awuah-Darko and Wiley that Wiley’s representatives claim were sent in the months following the alleged assault. In some messages, Awuah-Darko appears to be arranging to attend a birthday party for Wiley in Nigeria; in another, he asks if he could visit Wiley at his home in upstate New York. Wiley did not respond to this message.
Awuah-Darko and his legal representative did not immediately respond to CNN’s requests for further comment on his allegations and Wiley’s response. However, in his Instagram statement on Sunday, Awuah-Darko wrote that he “did not immediately confront the reality of my abuse as such,” and that it took “several months to reconcile with what had actually happened.”
“I am aware I’m not the perfect sexual assault victim,” Awuah-Darko told the New York Times, “but this is what happened to me.”
In a previous Instagram video posted in March, Awuah-Darko claimed he was “sexually assaulted by someone who outranks me in privilege, power…” and that he was seeking to raise $200,000 for legal fees.
On Monday, Awuah-Darko stated on his Instagram stories that he planned to take legal action. He noted that reporting the assault in Ghana “would have been problematic at best — dangerous at worst,” due to the country’s broader attitudes towards LGBTQ people. In February, Ghana’s parliament passed a controversial bill criminalizing LGBTQ relationships and those who support LGBTQ rights.
Wiley gained international fame in 2017 when he was chosen to paint Obama’s official portrait for the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. The portrait features a vibrant depiction of the 44th president against a backdrop of green foliage and symbolic flowers.
Prior to this, the Yale University-trained painter had established a career in portraiture and sculpture, depicting Black individuals in the style of Old Master paintings to striking and ornate effect.
