RICHARD EDEN: Will the Royal Academy of Arts strip of accused?

RICHARD EDEN: Will the Royal Academy of Arts strip the title of an academician accused of sexual misconduct?

The Royal Academy of Arts is, I hear, considering the unprecedented step of stripping one of its 80 Royal Academicians of his title if claims of sexual misconduct are found to be true.

Sir David Adjaye, who is one of Britain’s most highly regarded architects, was accused by three former female employees of the institution.

The women told the Financial Times they had been left in emotional distress and financially crippled after alleging sexual abuse and harassment by him. 

Adjaye, 56, who married Ashley Shaw-Scott Adjaye in 2014, said he was ‘deeply sorry’ for entering into relationships with the former employees but denied abuse. 

A Royal Academy spokesman tells me: ‘Sir David has been a Royal Academician since 2017 and served on the [governing board] from October 2021 to June 2022. 

‘We take these allegations extremely seriously and are looking into this matter.’

An employee adds: ‘I’ve never heard of a Royal Academician losing their status before, but then I’ve also never heard of these kind of claims coming out about an academician before either.’

RICHARD EDEN: The Royal Academy of Arts (pictured) is, I hear, considering the unprecedented step of stripping one of its 80 Royal Academicians of his title if claims of sexual misconduct are found to be true

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