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Thursday, February 13, 2025

Thank you Renée Fleming, Ben Folds and Shonda Rhimes for standing with Kennedy Center leaders fired by evil Trump

 Stars Resign their Kennedy Center Posts in Wake of Trump’s Horrible Takeover.

In addition to Ms. Rutter, several other longtime staff members were fired.

Echo report published in The New York Times by By Javier C. Hernández and Robin Pogrebin

Renée Fleming, Ben Folds and Shonda Rhimes all left posts at the Kennedy Center after President Trump became chairman and its longtime leaders were fired.
From left, Renée Fleming was an artistic adviser to the center; Ben Folds advised the National Symphony Orchestra; and Shonda Rhimes was the board’s treasurer.

Donald Trump’s horrible takeover of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington prompted an outcry of opposition in the cultural community, with several artists resigning their posts at the center.

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, the 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 in the wake of Trump’s takeover.

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 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.”

“I’ve treasured the bipartisan support for this institution as a beacon of America at our best,” she added. “I hope the Kennedy Center continues to flourish and serve the passionate and diverse audience in our nation’s capital and across the country.”

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.,” Mr. Folds wrote on Instagram. “Mostly, and above all, I will miss the musicians of our nation’s symphony orchestra — just the best!”
Shonda Rhimes

Ms. Rhimes, a famed television producer and writer, resigned as treasurer of the Kennedy Center’s board on Wednesday, a spokeswoman for Ms. Rhimes said.

On Wednesday evening, Ms. Rhimes posted a quote from John F. Kennedy on Instagram: “If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him.”

Javier C. Hernández reports on classical music, opera and dance in New York City and beyond. More about Javier C. Hernández

Robin Pogrebin, who has been a reporter for The Times for nearly 30 years, covers arts and culture. More about Robin Pogrebin



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