Kennedy Center Performer Asks Judge to Toss Case He Calls ‘Retaliatory’
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Lawyers for jazz musician Chuck Redd have requested a judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by President Trump’s allies at the Kennedy Center, arguing it aims to suppress his protest against the center’s renaming.
- Richard Grenell, former Kennedy Center president and Trump ally, threatened to sue Redd for $1 million after Redd refused to perform at the center’s annual Christmas Eve concert due to opposition to renaming the center after Trump.
- The dispute occurs amid broader legal battles over the Kennedy Center’s future, as Trump rebrands the venue, leading to over 45 performance cancellations and financial strain.
- The Kennedy Center proceeded with the lawsuit in January, seeking $7,500 in damages, claiming Redd was contractually obligated to perform at the concert.
