The Kennedy Center's president, Richard Grenell, has expressed strong disapproval of jazz musician Chuck Redd's decision to cancel his Christmas Eve performance following the announcement that President Donald Trump's name would be added to the esteemed arts venue in Washington, D.C.
According to Fox News, Grenell accused Redd of inflicting financial harm on the nonprofit institution and is seeking $1 million in damages, labeling Redd's actions as a "political stunt." In a letter to Redd, Grenell stated, "Your decision to withdraw at the last moment explicitly in response to the Center's recent renaming, which honors President Trump's extraordinary efforts to save this national treasure is classic intolerance and very costly to a non-profit Arts institution." Fox News Digital was unable to obtain a comment from Redd.
Redd, who has been a fixture at the Kennedy Center's holiday Jazz Jams since 2006, canceled his performance after the addition of Trump's name. "When I saw the name change on the Kennedy Center website and then hours later on the building, I chose to cancel our concert," Redd explained to The Associated Press. The Kennedy Center's board had unanimously voted on December 18 to rename the institution the "Trump-Kennedy Center," a decision that drew immediate criticism from the Kennedy family.
Maria Shriver, niece of President John F. Kennedy, expressed her disapproval, describing the renaming as "beyond comprehension." The decision has also led to a wave of cancellations by other artists, including Lin-Manuel Miranda, who withdrew a production of "Hamilton." Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center's vice president of public relations, criticized Redd's decision, stating that he was politicizing art by canceling his performance.
Daravi remarked, "Any artist canceling their show at the Trump Kennedy Center over political differences isnt courageous or principledthey are selfish, intolerant, and have failed to meet the basic duty of a public artist: to perform for all people." She emphasized that art should be "a shared cultural experience meant to unite, not exclude," and described the venue as "a true bipartisan institution that welcomes artists and patrons from all backgrounds."
Daravi further asserted that "great art transcends politics," and reaffirmed the center's commitment to offering programming that resonates with diverse audiences.
The recent addition of President Trump's name to the building's exterior and the website header, now reading "The Trump Kennedy Center," underscores the institution's new identity. The Associated Press contributed to this report, highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding the intersection of politics and the arts at one of the nation's most prominent cultural venues.
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