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3w ago

WHCA Shifts Focus, Cancels Amber Ruffin's Performance at Annual Dinner

The White House Correspondents' Association drops its traditional comedic act, citing a focus on journalistic excellence and avoiding divisive politics.

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The White House correspondents’ dinner axed comedian Amber Ruffin as host after a Trump administration official called her “hate-filled” because of her jokes about the president. (Getty)
Whoopi Goldberg on "The View"(Credit: ABC)

Overview

  • The WHCA announced the cancellation of comedian Amber Ruffin's performance for the April 26 dinner, citing a decision to prioritize journalistic excellence over divisive entertainment.
  • The cancellation followed criticism from the Trump administration, with Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich describing Ruffin as 'hate-filled' after her controversial remarks on a podcast.
  • WHCA President Eugene Daniels stated the decision to remove the comedy act was made weeks earlier to emphasize celebrating the First Amendment and honoring outstanding journalism.
  • The WHCA dinner's format has been a topic of scrutiny, with concerns about the optics of journalists mingling with government officials at a high-profile event.
  • This marks the second time in recent years the WHCA has excluded a comedian, with a similar reformatting occurring in 2019 when historian Ron Chernow was the featured speaker.