Key Takeaways

• The podcast discusses the case of Joseph Awuadarko, an influencer who claims to be pursuing assisted suicide in the Netherlands due to bipolar disorder.
• Awudarko’s claims about his family cutting him off for being gay are questioned, with his family stating they provide him with financial support.
• Awudarko previously accused the artist Kehinde Wiley of sexual assault, an allegation Wiley has strongly denied, providing evidence of a cordial relationship.
• The episode touches on the complexities and controversies surrounding assisted suicide, particularly its expansion to individuals with psychiatric conditions in countries like the Netherlands.
• The podcast highlights Awudarko’s use of his personal struggles, including mental health and potential assisted suicide, to gain followers and engagement on social media.

Segments

Introducing Joseph Awuadarko and His Art (~00:07:00)

• Key Takeaway: The main subject, Joseph Awuadarko, is introduced as an artist with a significant Instagram following, whose work often reflects his mental health struggles and personal life.
• Summary: The hosts introduce Joseph Awuadarko, an artist from Ghana living in Amsterdam, who has gained a large following on Instagram under the username Okunta Kinte. His ‘Dear Artist’ posts, often shared on sticky notes, have gone viral, with one receiving 29,000 likes.

Family Background and Wealth Disparity (~00:11:00)

• Key Takeaway: Awudarko’s background is clarified: he comes from a wealthy Ghanaian family, which contrasts with the typical image of a struggling immigrant, and the discussion touches on wealth inequality in Ghana compared to the US.
• Summary: The discussion clarifies that Joseph Awuadarko comes from a very wealthy Ghanaian family, challenging any perception of him being a disadvantaged immigrant. The hosts elaborate on the significant wealth disparity in countries like Ghana, where the gap between the rich and poor is vast.

Accusation Against Kehinde Wiley (~00:22:00)

• Key Takeaway: Awudarko publicly accused the prominent artist Kehinde Wiley of sexual assault, an allegation that Wiley has vehemently denied, claiming the relationship was consensual and the accusations are defamatory.
• Summary: Joseph Awuadarko posted on Instagram accusing Kehinde Wiley, known for painting portraits of the Obamas, of sexual assault. Wiley denied the allegations, stating the relationship was consensual and that Awuadarko had been trying to stay in his life, providing text messages as evidence.

GoFundMe and Family Support Discrepancy (~00:34:00)

• Key Takeaway: Awudarko raised $3,000 via GoFundMe for a lawsuit that never materialized, which he kept for ‘miscellaneous costs,’ while his family claims to provide him with ongoing financial support, contradicting his narrative of being cut off.
• Summary: The hosts discuss Awudarko’s use of a GoFundMe campaign, which raised $3,000 for a non-existent lawsuit, with the funds reportedly used for travel and relocation. This is contrasted with his family’s statement that they continue to support him financially, casting doubt on his claims of being disowned.

Artistic Expression of Mental Health (~00:39:00)

• Key Takeaway: Awudarko’s art includes a spreadsheet logging his emotions hour by hour, which the hosts find to be a form of intense self-monitoring that raises questions about its authenticity and therapeutic value.
• Summary: The episode examines Awudarko’s art, including a spreadsheet detailing his emotions hourly, colored to represent different states. The hosts question the practice of such detailed self-monitoring and its potential impact on mental well-being.

Pursuit of Assisted Suicide in the Netherlands (~00:45:00)

• Key Takeaway: Awudarko announced his intention to pursue legally assisted suicide in the Netherlands due to his bipolar disorder, a move that highlights the growing trend of psychiatric conditions being grounds for euthanasia in some countries.
• Summary: Awudarko announced on Instagram that he was moving to the Netherlands to legally end his life due to his bipolar disorder, sharing a tearful video about his struggles. This announcement brings up the topic of assisted suicide for mental health conditions.

Assisted Suicide Laws and Controversies (~00:47:00)

• Key Takeaway: The discussion shifts to the legal and ethical landscape of assisted suicide, noting its availability in countries like Switzerland and the Netherlands, and the increasing number of cases involving psychiatric conditions, which is a point of controversy.
• Summary: The hosts provide background on assisted suicide laws, mentioning Switzerland’s allowance for foreigners and the Netherlands’ increasing approval of euthanasia for psychiatric conditions, which rose significantly from 2010 to 2023. They contrast this with the strict criteria in places like Washington state.

The ‘Last Supper Project’ and Social Media Engagement (~00:56:00)

• Key Takeaway: In his final months, Awudarko launched ‘The Last Supper Project,’ inviting strangers for dinner, framing it as a way to connect and study relationships, which the hosts view as another tactic to gain social media attention.
• Summary: Following his announcement about assisted suicide, Awudarko initiated ‘The Last Supper Project,’ inviting people in the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Belgium to share meals with him. He described this as a way to connect and study relationships, offering to bring board games and origami.