Overview

• Tavish Forsyth, a Kennedy Center contractor, posted a 35-minute nude protest video denouncing President Trump’s takeover of the institution and his policies targeting marginalized groups.
• The video criticized Trump’s ban on drag performances at the Kennedy Center and questioned whether staying in his role constituted complicity or resistance.
• The Kennedy Center fired Forsyth on March 20, 2025, calling the video 'extremely disturbing' and raising concerns about his position working with minors.
• Forsyth defended the video as an act of artistic resistance, rejecting allegations of misconduct and highlighting systemic oppression faced by marginalized communities.
• Trump’s appointment as chairman of the Kennedy Center and his policy changes have drawn widespread criticism for reshaping the institution’s cultural direction and stifling LGBTQ+ representation.