Trump's New Kennedy Center PR Attempts to Explain Away Cancelled Shows Amid Takeover
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has released an account of program cancellations that have occurs in the past six months. Since early February, artists and performers including Lin-Manuel Miranda and Issa Rae pulled out of scheduled appearances at the prestigious venue in the wake of Donald Trump's Kennedy Center takeover in which he appointed himself chairman.
The list was published 'in the spirit of transparency and due to a litany of misinformation being spread in the press,' per the Kennedy Center Vice President of Public Relations, Roma Daravi. Daravi formerly served as the White House Deputy Director of Strategic Communications under Trump. The accompanying press statement claims 'the only shows' cancelled since Feb. 12 'were due to lack of sales or artist availability.'
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The list of 26 events that have been canceled or postponed includes 15 that the artist or producer canceled for reasons unrelated to illness, availability, sales, or finances.
Rae cancelled An Evening With Issa Rae on Feb. 14, citing 'an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds through all mediums.' Miranda and Jefferey Seller were meant to bring Hamilton to the Kennedy Center in 2026, but cancelled the run this week, saying: 'The Kennedy Center was not created in this spirit, and we're not going to be a part of it while it is the Trump Kennedy Center. We're just not going to be part of it.'
Amanda Rheaume also canceled her appearance scheduled for April 5. 'We don't have the same politics and values, let's put it that way,' Rheaume told the Toronto Star. 'For me to travel across the border into the U.S. … I'm a queer, Métis person — those two things alone — [Trump's] already proven in so many overt and covert ways that I'm sure he wouldn't be receptive.'
On Feb. 22, Balún cancelled their appearance scheduled for Feb. 27. 'This choice wasn't easy, but recent events made it clear that the space no longer aligns with our values. Our safety, integrity, and commitment to justice come first,' they wrote in a statement. 'Our fight for justice continues—just not from that stage.' On March 2, Peter Wolf cancelled his March 21 book event at the Kennedy Center. 'I have cancelled my upcoming book event at The Kennedy Center due to the egregious firing of staff by the new administration,' he said.
On Feb. 13, Low Cut Connie, the Philadelphia rock and soul band fronted by Adam Weiner, cancelled their March 19 concert. 'Upon learning that this institution that has run non-partisan for 54 years is now chaired by President Trump himself and his regime, I decided I will not perform there,' Weiner said. 'Arts institutions are one area that should be immune from our corrosive political culture. I sincerely wish for the Kennedy Center to return to a non-partisan community-building model of arts programming. Until that occurs, I won't perform there.'
Other canceled events include the National Youth Poet Laureate commemoration, the annual Blacks in Wax performance (this year's theme celebrates the 60th anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act), a screening of the Blackfeet Reservation documentary Bring Them Home, an R&B love song listening session, and more.
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