Artist Kehinde Wiley finally speaks out about the sexual assault allegation brought up against him.
Since reporting that fellow artist, Joseph Awuah-Darko, claimed that Wiley assaulted him twice in 2021, more people have come forward with their allegations against him. UK-based filmmaker, poet, and curator, Nathaniel Lloyd Richards, accused Wiley of “inappropriate touching and groping while on a date in 2019.”
Another accuser, Terrell Armistead, went on Instagram and accused Wiley of rape. “In Winter of 2010, I was groped and raped by Kehinde Wiley- both without my consent at his apartment in New York.”
He continued, “This grope was unprovoked and I was quite mortified- I then politely moved his hands away indicting that I was not interested in sex. I made this clear to Wiley.” Armistead admitted that he believed that he wasn’t going to be assaulted by Wiley anymore and agreed to lay in the bed with him, however, things took a turn.
“Hours later to my horror and confusion, I woke up to discover Kehinde performing forced oral penetration on me with his lips around my penis. I pushed him off immediately and proceeded to put the rest of my clothes on.”
Wiley’s attorney, Jennifer Barrett, denied all allegations on her client’s behalf. “Mr. Wiley denies any inappropriate conduct towards Nathaniel Lloyd Richards.” She continued, “Mr. Wiley does not know who this latest accuser is, [Terrell Armistead]. Nor does he recall ever meeting him. But what is clear is that the events he is describing never took place… Sadly, this appears to be another example of a person who has been manipulated into joining the scurrilois campaign orchestrated by Mr. Awuah-Darko.”
Awuah-Darko was the first person to come forward with the claims of sexual assault. On Instagram, he wrote, “On 9th June 2021- I was sexually assaulted by @kehindewiley. It almost destroyed me,” he wrote. “I hope my words and openness about my painful experience empower others to come forward. I hope all that unravels creates a path towards not only accountability but recompense and collective healing for other victims.”
Kehinde Wiley has responded to Awuah-Darko and denied the allegations. What are your thoughts on this?