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People walk past a mural of comedian Bill Cosby and U.S. President Barack Obama on the side of the Ben’s Chili Bowl restaurant in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 31, 2015. Cosby has long been linked with the iconic D.C. restaurant and has often attended the restaurant’s events. The 78-year-old Emmy winner, accused of sexual improprieties from dozens of women, appeared in a Pennsylvania courtroom Dec. 30 over an incident dating back to 2004 and was formally charged with a felony count of sexual assault. SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
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D.C.’s Ben’s Chili Bowl paints over Bill Cosby mural

and eliminates portrait of President Barack Obama, too

Clinton Yates @clintonyates
Topics:
All Day Barack Obama Bill Cosby Washington, D.C. Ben's Chili Bowl

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    3:45 PMBen’s Chili Bowl still doesn’t get it. The iconic Washington, D.C., restaurant that for decades has symbolized the soul of black Washington continues to cape for Bill Cosby, a longtime friend of the family business and champion of the establishment, even as sexual assault accusers continue to come forward against the legendary comedian. In 2012, a mural bearing the faces of Cosby, then-President Barack Obama, local radio icon Donnie Simpson and the Godfather of Go-Go Chuck Brown was painted along the building’s west wall.

    In 2014, as details of Cosby’s sordid past became more public knowledge, many (including this writer) figured it was time for the restaurant to remove his likeness from its exterior. They scoffed, calling him a family friend and basically taking an “innocent until proven guilty” stance on the matter. This week, they literally glossed over the problem.

    Claiming wear and tear, the mural has been painted over in its entirety, thus deleting not only Cosby’s image, but also the other four from the wall, as well. Originally painted by artist Aniekan Udofia, the restaurant is now holding a vote to see what will replace it.

    “Now, after five years of braving the elements, it’s time to refresh and repaint the mural and we want your input,” the website reads. “Thanks for your support and suggestions for our 2017 mural coming to you this spring.”

    First of all, this still doesn’t address the very obvious elephant in the room about their second-most famous customer (Obama being the first.) Secondly, did you really have to wipe out the other three figures in order to touch up the wall? Also, Cosby’s name is still on the list of available options of faces to adorn the new mural. Seriously? You had a chance to let this go away, even if in a relatively backhanded fashion, but no.

    In addition, some of the names on this list, I just don’t understand. Anthony Bourdain? Ellen DeGeneres? Jimmy Fallon? Rachel Ray? Look, we understand that the place is basically a tourist trap during daylight hours at this point, but come on. They’ve also allowed people to vote on groupings of six people, which are more thematically based, or you can write in names if you so choose, as well.

    At that point, why not Harambe?

    Clinton Yates is a tastemaker at Andscape. He likes rap, rock, reggae, R&B and remixes — in that order.