Overview
- Jazz group The Cookers pulled both “A Jazz New Year’s Eve” sets at the D.C. venue; their statement avoided reasons, while drummer Billy Hart said the name change “evidently” factored.
- Chuck Redd canceled his Christmas Eve concert and told the Associated Press he acted because Donald J. Trump’s name was added to the building.
- Kennedy Center administrators said they plan a $1 million lawsuit against Redd, and an official called recent cancellations “selfish” in a statement to ABC News.
- The board voted on Dec. 18 to append “Donald J. Trump,” exterior letters went up the next day, and the change still requires approval by Congress.
- Doug Varone and Dancers withdrew two April performances and estimated a $40,000 loss, fueling a wider debate about protest cancellations and the institution’s future.