Two more bands have canceled their upcoming shows at John F. Kennedy Center for performing arts after Donald Trump adding his name to the historical forum, according to New York Times.
The veteran jazz septet known as The Cookers have canceled two New Year's Eve shows. They announced they were moving to statement on Mondaywriting: “Jazz was born out of struggle and the tireless pursuit of freedom: freedom of thought, expression and the full human voice.”
The band's drummer Billy Hart told the Times that Trump's name change “obviously” influenced The Cookers' decision to leave.
New York dance troupe Doug Varone and Dancers also canceled two performances scheduled for April. The shows were supposed to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the company. Varone told the Times they were losing $40,000 because of the refusal. He wrote of the decision in an email: “It's financially devastating, but morally uplifting.”
“The artists who are now canceling were booked by the previous far-left leadership,” Richard Grenell, the center's presidential ambassador, said in response to the recent cancellations. “Their actions prove that the previous team cared more about inviting far-left political activists rather than artists willing to perform in front of everyone, regardless of their political beliefs. Boycotting the arts to show that you support the arts is a form of derangement syndrome.”
A Kennedy Center spokesman said the organization will not tolerate discrimination and book talent that appeals to people of all backgrounds and beliefs.
The Cookers and Doug Varone and Dancers are just the latest artists to remove their performances from the Kennedy Center's calendar. Jazz musician Chuck Redd abruptly canceled his Christmas concert to protest Trump's name change. Grenell said the organization will seek damages in the amount of $1 million.
In a Dec. 26 letter to Redd, Grenell wrote, “Your decision to pull out at the last minute—clearly in response to the recent renaming of the Center, which honors President Trump’s extraordinary efforts to save this national treasure—is classic bigotry and is very costly to a nonprofit arts organization.”
Trump's name was added to the center on December 19 after the White House announced that the Kennedy Center's board of trustees unanimously decided rename the venue the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.
