Kennedy Center vice president says he was fired after past writings, statements questioned
A former vice president at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts says he was fired by the organization following a CNN investigation into his previous comments on gay marriage.
Floyd Brown, who served as the center's top fundraiser for only several weeks, wrote in a social media post this week he was fired after being contacted by a CNN reporter inquiring about his comments on his personal website and other platforms criticizing homosexuality and floating conspiracy theories about former President Barack Obama.
'Comments rooted in my personal Christian views, which I have made in the past, have no impact upon my work here at the Kennedy Center nor do they impinge on my interactions with colleagues who do incredible work for the patrons of the Center,' Brown wrote in a statement he said he provided to CNN and included in his post on X. 'As a Christian I am called to work with others of different beliefs and worldviews.'
Brown said he asked for an explanation for his firing and to speak with Richard Grenell, a Trump ally and interim Kennedy Center president, but 'both of those requests have been ignored.'
'My only conclusion is [Grenell] was intimidated by a CNN story … so he preemptively fired me for my Christian beliefs on marriage,' Brown said.
The CNN story laid out Brown's history of attacking Republican leaders and activists for an 'acceptance of the open promotion of the gay lifestyle inside the tent of conservatism,' and comments calling gay marriage 'a hoax,' and 'godless.'
A representative for the Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Brown's dismissal.
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