Richard Grenell Blames ‘Left Wing’ Administration for Recent Kennedy Center Cancelations
By Francisco SalazarRichard Grenell, the Executive director of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, is slamming artists for canceling performances.
Grenell took to X stating, “The artists who are now canceling shows were booked by the previous far left leadership. Their actions prove that the previous team was more concerned about booking far left political activists rather than artists willing to perform for everyone regardless of their political beliefs. Boycotting the Arts to show you support the Arts is a form of derangement syndrome. The arts are for everyone and the left is mad about it.”
The post comes after a New Year’s Eve concert, a folk concert and a dance company canceled performances due to the illegal name change of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It also comes after he threatened to sue Chuck Redd due to a canceled a Christmas Eve concert.
Grenell’s social media tirades have been continuous over the last few days as he attacked The New York Times for “celebrating” boycotts as well as CNN and the Washington Post for encouraging boycotts. He l also slammed former executive Director Deborah Rutter for making $1.4 million dollars while she held the position.
However, he has never shown proof for his claims.
Since Grenell was placed in the position of Executive Director, he has seen attendance fall at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Meanwhile, this year’s Kennedy Center Honors, the first under his tenure, had the worst ratings in years. He has also suggested to organizations like the Washington National Opera that it “produce more popular operas,” questioned casting and singers’ fees. According to Artistic Director Francesca Zambello, Grenell “issued an edict requiring all shows to be ‘net neutral,’ that is, with costs fully covered by box-office returns and donor contributions.”
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