Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell has leveled serious accusations against prominent media outlets, alleging they are actively encouraging artists to boycott performances in protest of the center's rebranding to include President Trump's name.
Grenell, who was appointed by President Donald Trump as part of a strategic board overhaul, claimed without substantiation that organizations such as CNN and The Washington Post were urging performers to cancel their engagements in response to the renaming of the institution as the "Trump-Kennedy Center."
According to Mediaite, Grenell took to X to express his concerns, stating, "I have just been informed by some booked artists that they are receiving emails from @CNN and @washingtonpost encouraging them to boycott the Trump Kennedy Center."
He further criticized the media, asserting, "The legacy media are left wing activists and they are open about it." These remarks come in the wake of Grenell's earlier accusations that the media was "celebrating people boycotting the Arts."
The controversy arises amidst a backlash from artists who argue that the center's leadership has become overly politicized following Trump's appointment of loyalists to the board, which subsequently named Grenell as chair. The board recently claimed unanimous approval for adding Trump's name to the federally protected memorial.
In a notable development, jazz ensemble The Cookers withdrew from two New Years Eve performances, following drummer Chuck Redd's cancellation of a Christmas Eve concert. Grenell responded by demanding $1 million in damages, dismissing the cancellations as a "political stunt."
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