![Ghanaian artist seeks financial support to fund legal fees for sexual assault claims against TOP U.S. artist](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f1ec-1f1ed.png)
Ghanaian artist, Joseph Awuah-Darko is appealing for financial support to fund legal fees for an intended legal action against a top U.S. artist, Kehinde Wiley.
The legal fees involved in the matter is projected at $200,000. Joseph Awuah-Darko in a post on Instagram in March disclosed he had been sexually assaulted years back without revealing the identity of the perpetrator.
The Ghanaian artist indicated he’s prepared to never remain silent on the matter but to seek justice. However, he noted that the legal fees involved if he is to pursue the matter is costly, hence appealing for financial support.
“It should never happen to anybody. I have decided I will not be silent and I am willing to see it through to justice.
“The first step in what may be a long process. Here are ways to contribute towards current and projected legal fees [our target is $200,000],” he wrote on Instagram.
The Ghanaian artist in a video posted on his Instagram page said “I know my life will change forever after I share this but it’s time to come to the light.”
Joseph-Awuah Darko had publicly accused a globally recognised Nigerian-American artist, Kehinde Wiley of sexually assaulting him twice in June 2021.
The artist disclosed in an Instagram post on May 19 that the alleged assault happened during a dinner held on June 9, 2021 by the Ghana Creative Art Council at the Noldor Artist Residency.
He claimed that that Wiley had groped his buttocks while he was accompanying him and another guest upstairs to the bathroom.
He emphasized that this action was entirely uncalled for and unprovoked and claimed it was witnessed by another attendee whom he did not identify.
“In the first assault, I was inappropriately groped by Kehinde Wiley who proceeded to grab my buttocks with his hand before then saying something along the lines of “What is this thing?”. This happened in front of another dinner guest, while I was politely ushering them both up flights of stairs to use the bathroom during said dinner,” Joseph Awuah-Darko wrote on Instagram.
Meanwhile, Kehinde has denied the sexual allegations leveled against him. He said he had “a brief consensual relationship” with the Ghanaian artist three years ago.
He described the accusations as “false” and “not true” and only amounts to an “affront to all victims of sexual abuse.”
Kehinde Wiley added that there are litany of evidences showing his innocence in this matter and requested for privacy as he works to clear his name.
The post Ghanaian artist seeks financial support to fund legal fees for sexual assault claims against TOP U.S. artist first appeared on 3News.
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