Renowned Broadway actress Patti LuPone, a vocal critic of President Donald Trump, has suggested that the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, currently under Trump's administration, should be "blown up."
The New Yorker published a profile of the 76-year-old actress on Monday, in which author Michael Schulman reported that LuPone had repeatedly expressed this sentiment about the center, a cultural landmark in Washington, D.C. It remains unclear whether LuPone's comments were meant literally or in a different context.
According to The New Yorker, the Broadway star's controversial statement about the Kennedy Center was reminiscent of a comment made by pop icon Madonna about the White House during a women's march in January 2017, following Trump's electoral triumph over Hillary Clinton.
"Yes, I'm angry," Madonna had declared. "Yes, I am outraged. Yes, I have thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House. But I know this won't change anything." Madonna later clarified on Instagram that her comments were metaphorical and had been taken out of context.
LuPone, who has never been reticent about her disdain for Trump, made headlines at the 2017 Tony Awards when asked if Trump should attend her show "War Paint." "Well, I hope he doesn't because I won't perform if he does because I hate the mother[expletive]," she responded. "How's that?"
In October 2020, following Trump's hospitalization with COVID-19, LuPone reportedly drew parallels between Trump's appearance on a White House balcony overlooking the South Lawn and Eva Pern's balcony scene in the musical "Evita," a role she originated on Broadway in 1979. "I still have the lung power, and I wore less makeup," she wrote. "This revival is closing November 3rd."
As reported by Newsmax, the White House responded to LuPone's comments about the Kennedy Center. "President Trump cares deeply about American arts and culture, which is why he is revitalizing historic institutions like the Kennedy Center to their former greatness," White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly told Newsmax.
In February, Trump restructured the center's board, appointed himself as chair, and named envoy for special missions Richard Grenell as interim president. This move led to several artists severing their ties with the center or canceling scheduled events. Grenell told Newsmax in March that the center had been neglected, resulting in a "crumbling" infrastructure. Trump, he said, had tasked him with restoring it to its status as "the premier arts institution in the United States. And there's no reason why it can't be."
In an interview with Variety published in April, LuPone expressed her concern about the lack of civil discourse in the U.S., indirectly criticizing what she saw as Trump's polarizing influence. "What I don't understand about all of this in this country is that we can't seem to have a dialogue, a diverse dialogue or a dissenting views dialogue," she said. "You're labeled a communist. You're labeled a fascist."
LuPone's comments reflect the ongoing tension between the Trump administration and the arts community. While the administration seeks to revitalize institutions like the Kennedy Center, critics like LuPone question the motives and methods behind these efforts. As the debate continues, the future of the Kennedy Center and similar institutions remains a topic of national interest.
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