Kennedy Center President Rebukes Performer

Saturday, December 27, 2025

Kennedy Center president Richard Grenell lambasted a performer's decision to cancel an annual Christmas Eve jazz concert, following the addition of President Donald Trump's name to the Washington, DC, arts venue.

Posted by REDIAL at 11:32 AM | 42 COMMENTS | permalink

Chuck Redd pulled out after they put Trump's name on the building. So small petty loser Grenell is suing him for $1 million.

[image or embed]
-- Ron Filipkowski (@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social) Dec 27, 2025 at 8:53 AM

Comments

Yeah? Well ---- you -------, and the pedo ------- pile of ---- you work for.

#1 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-12-26 11:23 PM

Too bad you can't fire him. Because he quit you friggin morons.

Good luck with the Great FAFO. It's going so well.

#2 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-12-27 09:48 AM

Your decision to illegally rename the Kennedy Center at the last moment will prove to be very costly to a non-profit Arts institution.

The Kennedy Center is not in need of saving so future "extraordinary efforts" by President Trump will not be necessary.

#3 | Posted by TrueBlue at 2025-12-27 10:24 AM

Perhaps I'm in the minority, but I don't see how Trump's marble armrests for the Kennedy Center can at all be comfortable. Or classy.

#4 | Posted by Zed at 2025-12-27 10:53 AM

Wow. Trump stooge sends fawning letter that only a stooge could read with a straight face and this is newsworthy?

#5 | Posted by jpw at 2025-12-27 11:03 AM

Just what people wanted. Cold marble for their arm rests.

Trump is a ------- moron. His followers are even dumber.

#6 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-12-27 11:19 AM

Wait. The new chairman of the board of the place says it's doing better than ever. If so, then the financial loss' will be made up easily. Further, being such a hot place to perform one would think that a replacement act could have been found in short order. Right? Right? Buehler?

#7 | Posted by catdog at 2025-12-27 12:58 PM

Were there any contract violations?

If not, get over it whiners.

This is just more "we're the victim and are being persecuted" crap from the right while they --- all over the first amendment.

#8 | Posted by horstngraben at 2025-12-27 01:57 PM

Did the contract specify the name of the venue?

#9 | Posted by sentinel at 2025-12-27 08:46 PM

Sentinel raises a fair point.

For example, if they renamed the venue "Bill Johnson's freaky butt hole", we shouldn't be expecting performers to honor contracts made for performance at the Kennedy Center.

#10 | Posted by horstngraben at 2025-12-27 09:20 PM

@#9 ... Did the contract specify the name of the venue? ...

The legal name of the venue did not change (that would take an act of Congress).

So, is the question moot?

#11 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-12-27 09:46 PM

@#11 ... The legal name of the venue did not change (that would take an act of Congress) ...

I want to add, that is only my view of what has transpired.

I am not a lawyer, so what do I know ...

#12 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-12-27 09:47 PM

For example, if they renamed the venue "Bill Johnson's freaky butt hole"

It is my understanding that is what they renamed it.

#13 | Posted by truthhurts at 2025-12-27 09:49 PM

I assume the only reason Lewzer kept the Kennedy name at all was for the money draw.

If that fails to work, he'll just peel it off altogether.

#14 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-12-27 09:50 PM

Roma Daravi, vice president of public relations at the Kennedy Center, echoed Grenell's sentiment, arguing that Redd "failed to meet the basic duty of a public artist: to perform for all people."

This begs the hypothetical question

Would a Jewish jazz performer be required to play for Hitler?

#15 | Posted by truthhurts at 2025-12-27 09:51 PM

Too bad you can't fire him.

Apparently they want to sue him for a million dollars.

#16 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-12-27 09:55 PM

Roma Daravi, vice president of public relations at the Kennedy Center...

...and Lewzer's former Deputy Director of Strategic Communications.

#17 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-12-27 09:59 PM

15.

AI:

Jewish musicians generally did not play directly for Hitler in his presence, as the Nazi regime officially banned Jewish performers and their music, purging them from German orchestras. However, Jewish musicians were forced to perform in camp orchestras, such as at Auschwitz, for SS guards and commanders.

Key details regarding Jewish musicians and the Nazi era:

Forced Performances: Jewish musicians, including cellist Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, were forced to play in the Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz for camp personnel.

Excluded from German Stages: By 1933, Jewish artists were banned from the Vienna State Opera and Philharmonic. The last Jewish member of the Berlin Philharmonic was forced to leave in the 1930s.

Jewish Culture League: The Jewish Culture League (Kulturbund) was established in Berlin in 1933, which allowed Jewish musicians to perform only for Jewish audiences.

Exception in Music: While the Nazis banned Jewish composers, Hitler's personal record collection actually included music by Jewish artists, notes ABC News.

Theresienstadt: In the Theresienstadt ghetto, Jewish musicians continued to perform and compose until their deportation to death camps.

#18 | Posted by Dbt2 at 2025-12-27 09:59 PM

"Kennedy Center President Rebukes Performer"

"Get behind me, Satan"?

#19 | Posted by Dbt2 at 2025-12-27 10:01 PM

@#13 ... It is my understanding that is what they renamed it. ...

But, if I may say, a signed contract may have differing implications than your understanding.

Stated differently, get yer popcorn. This is going to be a court case, imo.

#20 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-12-27 10:08 PM

#18

In the 1980's a group of German music students in Univ there collected the formerly Banned original musical works of Jewish composers, many of them popular Broadway hits in NY, and are still playing them today.

syncopatedtimes.com

www.palast-orchester.de

sample:

www.youtube.com

#21 | Posted by Corky at 2025-12-27 10:24 PM

" Apparently they want to sue him for a million dollars."

His response should be "I never would've agreed to the contract if they'd been upfront with me about the name change. Frankly, the Adolph Hitler-JFK Center would've gotten my same reaction."

#22 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-12-27 10:25 PM

"failed to meet the basic duty of a public artist: to perform for all people."

What a moronic view.

Would this spokesperson go speak at a ------ gathering?!?

Is there no choice for the human involved?

#23 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-12-27 10:31 PM

@#22 ... His response should be "I never would've agreed to the contract if they'd been upfront with me about the name change. ...

Yup, false premise.

Agreed.

But, I'll say again, I am not a lawyer.

#24 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-12-27 10:39 PM

Truth,

Such an honor.

#25 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2025-12-27 11:21 PM

The contract says he'd perform at the Kennedy Center.

Kennedy Center no longer exists.

Therefore, it's impossible for him to perform.

#26 | Posted by Sycophant at 2025-12-28 12:39 AM

@#26 ... Kennedy Center no longer exists. ...

Legally does not exist?

-- or --

In popular opinion, it does not exist.

imo, that may be a determining factor here.

#27 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-12-28 12:47 AM

Barclay James Harvest - Child Of The Universe (1974)
www.youtube.com

Lyrics excerpt ...

genius.com

...
[Verse]
I'm a child of South Africa
I'm a child of Vietnam
I'm a child of Northern Ireland
I'm a small boy with blood on his hands

[Chorus]
Yes, I'm a child of the universe
Yes, I'm a child of the universe
You can see me on the TV every night
Always there to join in someone else's fight

[Bridge]
I didn't ask to be born, and I don't ask to die
I'm an endless scream, a gene machine
That cannot reason why

[Chorus]
Yes, I'm a child of the universe
Yes, I'm a child of the universe
You can see me on the TV every day
I'm the child next door three thousand miles away
...

[back in the day, that was a powerful song ... ]

#28 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-12-28 12:53 AM

Legally does not exist?

For now.

#29 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-12-28 12:55 AM

@#29 ... For now. ...

Agreed.

Will Congress grow the backbone needed to deny the nam-change request?

Firehose - Sometimes (1988)
www.youtube.com

Lyrics excerpt ...

genius.com

...
Like a locomotive wheel
Feelings real as steel
Hearts are just bound to break
Well, I'm off and on my way
Rolling night and day
Highway's callin' my name

You know sometimes
Maybe always
You know sometimes
I'll be there

Well, I wish that I could say
Wish I could stay
But now April's turning to May
If you see me in a while
Thank you for that smile
Talking 'bout an old friend

You know sometimes
Maybe always
You know sometimes
I'll be there
...

#30 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-12-28 01:14 AM

Will Congress grow the backbone needed to deny the nam-change request?

Probably not. They are too busy with the Epstein coverup.

#31 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-12-28 01:23 AM

Don't be tossing "legally" around like you know what you're doing. Just sayin'.

#32 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-12-28 01:25 AM

@#32 ... Don't be tossing "legally" around like you know what you're doing. Just sayin'. ...

Yeah. I do not disagree.

That is why I often state something along the lines of ... that I am not a lawyer, so what do I know.

But, thanks for the reminder.

OK, all that aside.

This dispute will likely end up in the Justice system (a.k.a., the Courts).

What do you think the Court will look at?

The name on the building's facade, or the name on the legal contract?

#33 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-12-28 01:32 AM

'Don't be tossing "legally" around like you know what you're doing.'

Don't worry. Having had lots of experience with midget tossing, I'm sure they know what they're doing.

#34 | Posted by sentinel at 2025-12-28 06:04 AM

Apparently we can't say "midget -------" on this site, since the latter word will be censored and cause bemusement.

#35 | Posted by sentinel at 2025-12-28 06:06 AM

The reality is that very likely the contract contained numerous provisions allowing for cancelling and it will likely fall under one of those provisions.

He is a professional musician. They have lawyers. The contract was likely vetted and agreed to.

I doubt there is anything they can do, definitely not get $1 million. Especially for a free concert.

From a pure legal perspective, the legal standard likely applied to the name change will be whether the validity of contracts hinge on whether the change constitutes a fundamental shift in the venue's nature that impacts the artist's engagement. This is of course absent provisions in the contract mentioned above.

#36 | Posted by Sycophant at 2025-12-28 06:41 AM

"Apparently we can't say "midget -------" on this site, since the latter word will be censored and cause bemusement."

See, told you so. :-)

#37 | Posted by sentinel at 2025-12-28 10:02 AM

This is completely believable:

You would have to guess that Christmas is actually a pretty lonely time for Donald Trump. On an abstract level, it's a holiday based on ideas (e.g., giving) that he doesn't place much value on. On a practical level, he's in what appears to be a marriage of convenience, his kids have families of their own, and his staff also has families of their own. We would not be at all surprised to learn that, despite being the President of the United States, he spent significant portions of the day alone.

And it couldn't happen to a nicer fellow.

#38 | Posted by A_Friend at 2025-12-28 10:12 AM

Pedo 47 Humiliated as He Scores Lowest Kennedy Center Ratings Ever

www.thedailybeast.com

#39 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-12-28 10:19 AM

Lowest Kennedy Center Ratings Ever

The simple truth is, whatever they call it, the Center has changed. The once venerable cultural icon is gone.

It won't be long before it turns into a UFC venue, with Lee Greenwood doing the announcing and Sydney Sweeney holding the round cards. Village People can do the walk-on music.

#40 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-12-28 12:31 PM

#40 ETTD

#41 | Posted by A_Friend at 2025-12-28 12:34 PM

The once great Kennedy Center, like everything Trump touches, ensh*ttified.

#42 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2025-12-29 06:18 AM

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