Backlash Mounts Against Trump as High-Profile Artists Exit Kennedy Center Following His Chairmanship Appointment
Issa Rae and other artists cancel events or resign from Kennedy Center roles in response to Trump's chairmanship, citing concerns over the institution's values.
Several high-profile creatives are cutting ties with the institution in protest.
Issa Rae, others cut ties with Kennedy Center after Trump's election
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The reverberations in the music community started immediately, when Ben Folds said he was stepping down from his role as artistic advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra.
Trump's Takeover of the Kennedy Center Rattles the Music World
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Critics say the president’s takeover of the Kennedy Center is an effort to seize control of a respected cultural institution whose honorees have shunned him in the past and to exert his influence on the arts.
Artists cut ties with the Kennedy Center after Trump's takeover
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The Kennedy Center is meant to be a beacon for the arts in all of America across the country.
Former Kennedy Center president speaks out in first interview since her firing
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The reconstitution of the board prompted other celebrities to ditch their associations with the venue.
Actress Issa Rae cancels sold-out Kennedy Center show after Trump named chairman of venue
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Trump is the first sitting president to unilaterally fire board members appointed by the opposing party, much less to do so for the express purpose of installing himself as chair.
Trump’s petty revenge on the arts
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The speed and extremity of these measures is sending Washington reeling.
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Rae is not the first to distance herself from the Kennedy Center after Trump's takeover.
Issa Rae: Actress cancels Kennedy Centre show after Donald Trump takeover
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Rae’s own politically-driven decision impacted all those that planned to attend her event, titled, “An Evening With Issa Rae.”
Trump Makes Hollywood Activist Issa Rae Self-Deport From Kennedy Center Show
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Mr. Trump raised the curtain on his plans to overhaul the arts center last week, announcing in a post on Truth Social that an “amazing” new chairman — none other than the 47th president himself — would be pioneering the effort to make the Kennedy Center “great again.”
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Rae isn’t the only performer canceling their show at the D.C. venue.
Issa Rae Cancels Kennedy Center Show With Tiffany Pollard Meme
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Rae’s move comes after several other public figures in Hollywood have resigned from their leadership positions within the organization after the center confirmed that Trump was elected chairman of the board in a statement Wednesday.
Issa Rae cancels Kennedy Center event after Donald Trump becomes new chairman
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Summary
Following Donald Trump's appointment as chairman of the Kennedy Center, actress Issa Rae has canceled her sold-out event, emphasizing core values in the arts. Shonda Rhimes, Ben Folds, and Renée Fleming have also resigned from their roles, protesting the center's direction under Trump's leadership. Rhimes highlighted the importance of artistic freedom, quoting John F. Kennedy. With Trump vowing to reshape the center away from 'woke culture', high-profile exits raise concerns about the institution's future. Trump’s purging of Biden-era appointees continues to provoke reactions from the arts community, jeopardizing the Kennedy Center's mission and programming.
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