PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Actors from a Kennedy Center production of Les Misérables threatened to boycott a performance attended by President Donald J. Trump.
👥 Who’s Involved: The cast of Les Misérables, Kennedy Center President Ric Grenell, President Trump, and celebrities like Lin-Manuel Miranda.
📍 Where & When: The Kennedy Center, Washington D.C., June 11.
💬 Key Quote: “The Kennedy Center will no longer fund this intolerance,” stated Ric Grenell.
⚠️ Impact: The Kennedy Center faces controversy over political affiliations and the potential impact on future performances and funding.
IN FULL:
A brewing controversy at the Kennedy Center has emerged as a significant number of actors from the touring company of Les Misérables have expressed their intent to boycott a performance scheduled for June 11, which President Donald J. Trump plans to attend. In response to a report by CNN, Kennedy Center President Ric Grenell issued a firm statement rejecting what he described as “intolerance.”
Grenell emphasized that the Kennedy Center would not support any form of intolerance, stating, “We haven’t heard this rumor, but the Kennedy Center will no longer fund this intolerance.” He further asserted that performers unwilling to entertain patrons regardless of political beliefs would not be welcome, suggesting that such behavior should be publicly acknowledged to inform future hiring decisions.
The Kennedy Center, under the Trump administration, has experienced efforts to revamp its operations, including the firing of the board of directors shortly after Trump took office. Some liberal figures, such as Lin-Manuel Miranda, have distanced themselves from the venue, with Miranda canceling a performance of Hamilton and criticizing what he referred to as the “Trump Kennedy Center.”
Grenell has dismissed such actions as mere “publicity stunts” that he believes will ultimately backfire. He maintained that the arts should be accessible to everyone, not just those who align with specific political views.