Ben’s Chili Bowl paints over Cosby and Obama murals
WASHINGTON: Ben’s Chili Bowl, a landmark in the nation’s capital, had been among the last public supporters of Bill Cosby. Amid accusations that the actor sexually assaulted dozens of women and revelations in court documents in which Cosby admitted that he intended to give drugs to women with whom he wanted to have sex, the restaurant maintained a large colourful mural of the comedian on the facade of its flagship restaurant.
Despite pressure from many in the community, the restaurant has not commented on the revelations, only saying that Cosby is a long-time friend and his face would remain.
But Ben’s Chili Bowl, which opened in 1958, has announced on its website that it painted over the mural this week, and Cosby’s face is no longer a visible presence there.
Cosby, however, wasn’t singled out: Portraits of former president Barack Obama, Go-Go music star Chuck Brown and DJ Donnie Simpson also were painted over.
The restaurant did not explain why it erased the mural, but said that it was painted in 2012 and that it was time for a refresh.
“Now, after five years of braving the elements, its time to refresh and repaint the mural and we want your input!” the website reads.
A call to Ben’s Chili Bowl on Thursday wasn’t returned.
On its website, Ben’s Chili Bowl is asking customers to vote from a list of people on who they would like to see on the next mural.
Cosby, Obama and Brown are all contenders on the online ballot.
Wale, Oprah Winfrey, Michelle Obama, Washington Mayor Muriel E Bowser and former mayor Marion Barry jr are also included, as well as John F Kennedy jr and Mahatma Gandhi (President Donald Trump is not on the list).
Cosby and the Obama family were famously the only people who got free food at Ben’s. It’s unclear if those privileges still stand.
Vida Ali, a member of the family who owns Ben’s, said in a November 2014 interview that Cosby is “part of our family” and his privileges still stood at that time.
Ben’s Chili Bowl became a DC landmark after the 1968 riots that followed the assassination of Martin Luther King jr, which damaged much of the neighbourhood and other parts of the city.
Stokely Carmichael, leader of the Student Nonviolent Co- ordinating Committee, asked the restaurant to stay open during the riots and past curfew.
The restaurant was spared, and served food to black activists, firefighters and police officers trying to restore calm to the city.
For mer mayor Adrian Fenty took Obama to the restaurant in 2009 when the latter first took office. – The Washington Post