Kennedy Centre vice-president ‘fired for views on gay people'

Telegraph

5 days ago

The vice-president of the Kennedy Centre claims he was sacked by a gay ally of Donald Trump over his beliefs on homosexuality.
Floyd Brown suggested that Ric Grenell, the president of the performing arts centre in Washington DC of which Mr Trump took control after taking office, had been 'intimidated' by a news article which relayed comments he previously made about homosexuality and gay marriage.
Mr Brown said in a statement on social media he was threatened with dismissal if he refused to 'recant' his beliefs on homosexuality and that Mr Grenell, who is gay, refused to provide an explanation for his dismissal.
But sources close to Mr Grenell have rejected Mr Brown's version of events.
Mr Trump moved to take control of the Kennedy Centre soon after returning to office this year, replacing its board members with figures whom critics characterise as loyalists with scant interest in the arts.
Sacking 'followed CNN questions'
Mr Brown, the founder of the conservative Western Journal website, said he had been recruited as vice-president last month.
In a post on social media, he said he was sacked two hours after receiving an email from CNN seeking clarity on his views about traditional marriage and 'homosexual influence' in the Republican Party.
According to CNN, Mr Brown has made a series of anti-gay statements over the course of several decades.
In 2023, he claimed on a conservative radio programme: 'Homosexuality is a punishment that comes upon a nation that has rejected God. They're debasing themselves and their humanity.'
He has also criticised the 'acceptance of the open promotion of the gay lifestyle inside the tent of conservatism'. claimed same-sex marriage is 'godless', and attacked George W. Bush, the former president, for appointing a gay chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC).
'It was truly not my intention to offend anyone with my comments,' Mr Brown said in his statement.
'I have never intended to attack or demean any person in my statements, and have always shared the mission of Jesus, striving to love others unconditionally.
'The amazing beauty of the Maga [Make America Great Again] movement is we have people of many different beliefs inside our tent.'
Mr Brown claimed he was told he would be sacked if he refused to renounce his beliefs on homosexuality, although it is unclear if he was claiming Mr Grenell delivered this message personally.
'Needless to say, I refused to recant and was shown the door. My beliefs are much more common to Biblical Christianity,' he said.
Brown's account labelled inaccurate
Mr Brown added: 'My only conclusion is Richard Grenell was intimidated by a CNN story… so he pre-emptively fired me for my Christian beliefs on marriage.'
A source familiar with the Kennedy Centre told The Telegraph Mr Brown's social media post was inaccurate.
Mr Grenell 'had not met with Brown, did not know him, and was not involved in his hiring', a source told CNN.
Mr Grenell is a long-time ally of Mr Trump, serving as ambassador to Germany in the president's first term.
His name was floated as a potential secretary of state before Marco Rubio's nomination last year, and he currently serves as presidential envoy for special missions.