Following the cancelation of many famed and prominent artists at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Artists, Richard Grenell is firing back by labeling those artists as “niche” and claiming they lack “supply and demand audience.”

In a new interview with Conservative Journalist Katie Pavlich on NewsNation, Grenell was asked who the artists that canceled were and whether they were “prominent artists or people looking for publicity because they are not that well-known.” In response, Grenell spoke about government funding the arts and said “a lot of these people  were being paid on state department contracts in the past or government funds to go perform because they could not get a supply and demand audience. They couldn’t participate in capitalism. Maybe they have a niche talent that is interesting. They play an interesting type of banjo.” He added that arts education and program is smart when it’s niche but noted that you can’t do niche programming “if the books aren’t balanced” and you don’t have money.

Among the artists that have canceled are Hollywood actress Issa Rae; Stephen Schwartz, writer of the box office juggernaut “Wicked;” the Tony Award winning box office smash hit, “Hamilton;” five-time Grammy-winner Renée Fleming; Grammy and Oscar nominee Philip Glass; famed Jazz player Chuck Redd; two-time Grammy-winner Rhiannon Giddens; and Gregory Spears, writer of the critically acclaimed opera “Fellow Travelers.” The Washington National Opera and Vocal Arts DC, bedrocks of the cultural institution, have also pulled out of the Center. It would be interesting to see if anyone beside Grenell would call these artists as lacking “supply and demand.”

When asked about who would be replacing these renowned artists in the Kennedy Center’s new programming, Grenell failed to name a single performer or specifics of any kind. He did note that he wants “common sense” programming and wanted to welcome people from the right and family friendly programing like “Dogman.”

Since Trump took over the Kennedy Center, ticket sales have reportedly been down. The only organization still standing at the center is the National Symphony Orchestra, which noted it had no intention of leaving. Music Director Gianandrea Noseda stated, “I cannot make everybody happy… I know why I am here — to serve the art, the music and the community. Music belongs to everybody and I think is also part of the life of this community. Someone will always say, ‘Oh, he’s associated with this administration.’ Someone else will say, ‘No, he is free-spirited.’ I am free-spirited.”

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