PRESIDENT TINUBU'S MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE TO CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE AND HER FAMILY. (PHOTO). #PRESS RELEASE.
The Kennedy Center says it plans to file a $1 million lawsuit against jazz musician Chuck Redd after he canceled his long-running Christmas Eve performance at the Washington, D.C., arts venue. Redd, an internationally known drummer and vibraphonist, pulled out of the annual Christmas Jazz Jam just days after President Donald Trump’s name was added to the exterior of the building. Kennedy Center officials said the cancellation amounts to a breach of contract and accused the musician of putting politics ahead of his obligation to perform. A spokesperson for the center said Redd’s decision was a disservice to audiences and argued that artists who withdraw over political disagreements are failing in their responsibility to serve the public through art. Redd, who has hosted the Christmas event for many years, said he chose to cancel after seeing the name change reflected both online and on the building itself.
Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell sharply criticized Redd in a letter, calling the cancellation a political stunt and accusing him of giving in to pressure from political activists. Grenell also posted publicly that the arts should be accessible to everyone and said the center would not allow performances to be canceled without consequences. Redd has not publicly responded further. The dispute comes amid broader backlash following the board’s decision to rename the venue “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts,” a move that has prompted several artists to cancel appearances and sparked legal action from Democratic lawmakers who argue the name change requires congressional approval. Kennedy Center officials maintain that the institution remains bipartisan, welcoming artists and patrons from all backgrounds, and said the planned lawsuit against Redd will be filed after the holiday period.
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