President Trump’s takeover of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington has prompted an outcry in the cultural community, with several artists resigning their posts or canceling engagements at the center. Mr. Trump made himself chairman of the center on Wednesday, a few days after he purged the board of Biden appointees. The new board, stacked with Trump loyalists, elected Mr. Trump chairman and fired the Kennedy Center’s longtime president, Deborah F. Rutter. The board named Richard Grenell, who was ambassador to Germany during the first Trump administration, interim president.
The new leadership has moved swiftly to reshape the Kennedy Center’s upper ranks. In addition to Ms. Rutter, several other longtime staff members were fired on Wednesday, including top officials overseeing public relations and governance.
Here’s a look at the stars who have resigned from the Kennedy Center or canceled shows in the wake of Mr. Trump’s takeover:
Issa Rae, the actress, writer, and comedian, announced on social media that she was canceling an engagement next month at the Kennedy Center, “An Evening With Issa Rae.” She said that tickets would be refunded.
Unfortunately, due to what I believe to be an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds through all mediums, I’ve decided to cancel my appearance at this venue.
A page about the show on the Kennedy Center’s website went down, replaced by an error message.
Renée Fleming, the renowned soprano, said Wednesday that she would step down as an artistic adviser to the Kennedy Center. In a statement, she did not mention Mr. Trump but praised David M. Rubenstein, the center’s ousted chairman, and Ms. Rutter, and said that “out of respect, I think it right to depart as well.”
Ms. Fleming is still scheduled to perform at a Kennedy Center concert in May celebrating American composers, including Samuel Barber, Leonard Bernstein, and Margaret Bonds. The concert is presented by Washington National Opera.
Ben Folds, the singer and songwriter, said he would resign his post as an adviser to the National Symphony Orchestra, which is overseen by the Kennedy Center.
Given developments at the Kennedy Center, effective today I am resigning as artistic adviser to the N.S.O. Mostly, and above all, I will miss the musicians of our nation’s symphony orchestra — just the best!
Shonda Rhimes, a famed television producer and writer, resigned as treasurer of the Kennedy Center’s board on Wednesday, a spokeswoman for Ms. Rhimes said.
Low Cut Connie, the rock band, canceled an appearance at the Kennedy Center next month.
Upon learning that this institution that has run nonpartisan for 54 years is now chaired by President Trump himself and his regime, I decided I will not perform there.
Mr. Weiner said that his friends and fans would be directly negatively affected by this administration’s policies and messaging. He said he would not return to the Kennedy Center until it embraced a “nonpartisan community-building model of arts programming.”
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