David Adjaye has publicly spoken out against the sexual misconduct allegations made against him in 2023, calling a Financial Times article that detailed the claims “deeply unfair” and claiming he was caught in a “#MeToo slam.” In an interview with architecture critic Tim Abrahams for the podcast Superhumanism, reported by Dezeen, Adjaye said the FT story destabilized confidence in him and that there was no interest in hearing his side. He did not explain why he believed the reporting was unfair, despite having declined to comment to multiple outlets at the time. The allegations, which included sexual harassment and assault claims from three women, led several institutions to cut ties with Adjaye, most notably the Studio Museum in Harlem, which had just opened a new building designed by his firm.
This matters because Adjaye is one of the most prominent architects of his generation, and the allegations have had significant repercussions for major cultural institutions. The Studio Museum in Harlem’s new home, designed by Adjaye Associates, opened amid ongoing controversy, and the case highlights the lasting impact of the #MeToo movement on the art and architecture worlds. An essay in Art in America by Kate Wagner reflects on the opening of Adjaye-designed buildings, arguing that #MeToo was both a triumph and, nearly a decade later, an abject failure in addressing systemic abuse. Adjaye’s first public comments may shape how institutions and the public continue to reckon with his legacy and the broader issues of accountability in the arts.