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Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Actor Harvey Fierstein claims his shows are banned from Kennedy Center, but venue head calls it 'total lie'
Film and Broadway veteran Harvey Fierstein alleged that his shows have been "banned" from the Kennedy Center since President Donald Trump's "takeover" of the storied performing arts venue. Fierstein, who has won four Tonys for his stage work in addition to appearing in numerous movies and shows, has been in several shows performed at the Kennedy Center. In January, Trump fired members of the center's Board of Trustees and announced he had been elected board chair by his new handpicked board. Fierstein claimed that, as a consequence, some of his shows are no longer welcome. "A few folks have written to ask how I feel about Trump's takeover of The Kennedy Center. How do you think I feel?" Fierstein wrote on Instagram. "The shows I've written are now banned from being performed in our premiere American theater. Those shows, most of which have been performed there in the past, include, KINKY BOOTS, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, TORCH SONG TRILOGY, HAIRSPRAY, SAFE SEX, CASA VALENTINA, SPOOKHOUSE, A CATERED AFFAIR, THE SISSY DUCKLING, BELLA BELLA and more." Bill Maher Rips Left's 'Exclusionary Attitude' As 'Hamilton' Cancels Shows At Trump-backed Kennedy Center "I have been in the struggle for our civil rights for more than 50 years only to watch them snatched away by a man who actually couldn't care less," Fierstein continued. "He does this stuff only to placate the religious right so they'll look the other way as he savages our political system for his own glorification." Read On The Fox News App Later in the post, Fierstein claimed Trump was attacking free speech. "He attacks free speech," Fierstein said. "He attacks the free press. He attacks America's allies. His only allegiance is to himself – the golden calf. My fellow Americans I warn you – this is NOT how it begins. This is how freedom ENDS! Trump may have declared 'woke' as dead in America. We must prove him wrong. WAKE THE HELL UP!!!!!" Whoopi Declares She 'Has No Plans To Go' To Kennedy Center After Trump Becomes Chairman Of Venue Kennedy Center interim Executive Director Richard Grenell disputed Fierstein's allegation on X, calling it fiction. "This is a total lie," Grenell wrote. "Whoever told you this (because you obviously didn't do your own research) should be fired from your team for purposefully making you look foolish." He also noted that he, too, has been in the decades-long fight for equality and proudly served as the first openly gay U.S. Cabinet official during the first Trump administration, as the acting Director of National Intelligence. Kennedy Center Director Encourages Republican Attendance, Says 'Everyone Is Welcome' Several artists have distanced themselves from the Kennedy Center following Trump's move. Actress Issa Rae canceled her shows at the center, while other celebrities like "Grey's Anatomy" creator Shonda Rhimes and musician Ben Folds quit their positions at the venue. The producers of Broadway's "Hamilton" pulled out of a planned run there next year. "Our show simply cannot, in good conscience, participate and be a part of this new culture that is being imposed on the Kennedy Center," producer Jeffrey Seller said earlier this month. Grenell has previously said that his goal is to make the theater "prosperous" again and to welcome everyone. "The Kennedy Center is the premier arts institution in the United States," Grenell told Fox News Digital last week. "It deserves to have the public's full support and a balance sheet that is solid." Fox News Digital has reached out to Fierstein for further comment but did not immediately receive a article source: Actor Harvey Fierstein claims his shows are banned from Kennedy Center, but venue head calls it 'total lie'
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Harvey Fierstein Says He's 'Banned' From Kennedy Center Amid Trump Takeover: 'How Freedom Ends'
With a storied stage and screen career behind him, Harvey Fierstein is denouncing Donald Trump's takeover of the Kennedy Center. The 4x Tony winner, who has starred in several Kennedy Center productions over the years, called out the Trump administration with an impassioned statement on Instagram after more than 20 shows were canceled or postponed. More from Deadline Donald Trump's Kennedy Center Visit: POTUS Promises 'Really Good Shows' And Broadway Hits But Says 'I Never Liked 'Hamilton' Very Much' Kennedy Center Confirms More Than 20 Show Cancellations Or Postponements Since Donald Trump's Takeover Democrats Face Backlash From Donors As Hakeem Jeffries Lands In L.A. For Big-Ticket Fundraiser 'A few folks have written to ask how I feel about Trump's takeover of The Kennedy Center. How do you think I feel?' wrote Fierstein in the post. 'The shows I've written are now banned from being performed in our premiere American theater. Those shows, most of which have been performed there in the past, include, KINKY BOOTS, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, TORCH SONG TRILOGY, HAIRSPRAY, SAFE SEX, CASA VALENTINA, SPOOKHOUSE, A CATERED AFFAIR, THE SISSY DUCKLING, BELLA BELLA and more. 'I have been in the struggle for our civil rights for more than 50 years only to watch them snatched away by a man who actually couldn't care less. He does this stuff only to placate the religious right so they'll look the other way as he savages our political system for his own glorification,' he continued. Fierstein said of Trump, 'He attacks free speech. He attacks the free press. He attacks America's allies. His only allegiance is to himself – the golden calf. My fellow Americans I warn you – this is NOT how it begins. This is how freedom ENDS! Trump may have declared 'woke' as dead in America. We must prove him wrong. WAKE THE HELL UP!!!!!' Fierstein's statement comes as Trump visited the Kennedy Center this week, following his appointment as the Center's new chairman after he ousted half the organization's board members, who were nominated by Joe Biden. Since Trump took over, Shonda Rhimes has resigned from the board of the Kennedy Center, and Issa Rae has canceled a show scheduled for the venue. Meanwhile, Trump has faced backlash from supporters of the Kennedy Center's canceled touring children's musical Finn. Trump previously threatened to make the Kennedy Center 'GREAT AGAIN,' announcing his plan last month to remove those 'who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture.' 'We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP!' he added. 'Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP. The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation. For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!' Best of Deadline Everything We Know About Paramount's 'Regretting You' Adaptation So Far List Of Hollywood & Media Layoffs From Paramount To Warner Bros Discovery To CNN & More Which Colleen Hoover Books Are Becoming Movies? 'Verity,' 'Reminders Of Him' & 'Regretting You' Will Join 'It Ends With Us'
