Hollywood star Issa Rae has backed out of performing her one night show at The Kennedy Center after President Donald Trump became the chairman of the board.
“Thank you so much for selling out the Kennedy Center for ‘An Evening with Issa Rae,’” the 40-year-old actress wrote in her Instagram Stories about her March 16 show, per The Hollywood Reporter.
“Unfortunately, due to what I believe to be an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds through all mediums, I’ve decided to cancel my appearance at this venue,” she added.
It comes after Trump’s announcement that he had terminated most members of the Board of Trustees at the Kennedy Center — including Chairman David Rubenstein — and had taken over the role himself, as previously reported.
Issa Rae has canceled her sold-out show at the Kennedy Center after Donald Trump installed himself as chair of the performing arts institution #THRNews pic.twitter.com/soLbOA8HoI
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 14, 2025
Earlier this week, producer-writer Shonda Rhimes announced she had resigned as treasurer from the Kennedy Center board because of Trump’s involvement.
“Please be advised that as of today, Shonda Rhimes has resigned from the board of the Kennedy Center,” a spokesperson for the 55-year-old writer-producer told Deadline magazine.
Formerly appointed to the board by former President Barack Obama, Rhimes had been serving as one of its officers. Her resignation was followed by singer-songwriter and former frontman of Ben Folds Five, Ben Folds, who announced he also was out as artistic adviser to the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) following the move by Trump, The Hollywood Reporter noted.
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“Given the developments at the Kennedy Center, effective today I am resigning as artistic advisor to the NSO,” Folds wrote in a post on Instagram. “Not for me.”
The Kennedy Center oversees the NSO, as well as the Washington National Opera, THR noted.
The fallout continued, with actress Renee Fleming revealing a short time later she was out as artistic adviser at large, too, Deadline noted.
Trump made the announcement in a post to his social media platform Truth Social, and added that he also planned to make immediate changes to some of the events that were held there — beginning with drag shows that were intended for an audience of children.
Following the termination of Kennedy Center president Deborah Rutter, Ric Grenell, who is serving as interim president, announced on X that he had been briefed “by the CFO of the Kennedy Center on its financial situation” and said it was dire.
“She told me there is ZERO cash on hand. And ZERO in reserves,” Grenell wrote. “And the deferred maintenance is a crisis. For the past months they’ve been digging into the DEBT RESERVES.”
The Daily Wire’s managing editor, Brent Scher, added on X, “I’m told by a source inside the Kennedy Center that Grenell cut $2.4 MILLION (!!!) worth of executive salaries today. Its former president was making $1.4 million a year. Its general counsel was making over $500k. That’s absurd.”
Related: Shonda Rhimes Resigns From Kennedy Center Board After Trump Becomes Chair
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[[{“value”:”
Hollywood star Issa Rae has backed out of performing her one night show at The Kennedy Center after President Donald Trump became the chairman of the board.
“Thank you so much for selling out the Kennedy Center for ‘An Evening with Issa Rae,’” the 40-year-old actress wrote in her Instagram Stories about her March 16 show, per The Hollywood Reporter.
“Unfortunately, due to what I believe to be an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds through all mediums, I’ve decided to cancel my appearance at this venue,” she added.
It comes after Trump’s announcement that he had terminated most members of the Board of Trustees at the Kennedy Center — including Chairman David Rubenstein — and had taken over the role himself, as previously reported.
Issa Rae has canceled her sold-out show at the Kennedy Center after Donald Trump installed himself as chair of the performing arts institution #THRNews pic.twitter.com/soLbOA8HoI
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 14, 2025
Earlier this week, producer-writer Shonda Rhimes announced she had resigned as treasurer from the Kennedy Center board because of Trump’s involvement.
“Please be advised that as of today, Shonda Rhimes has resigned from the board of the Kennedy Center,” a spokesperson for the 55-year-old writer-producer told Deadline magazine.
Formerly appointed to the board by former President Barack Obama, Rhimes had been serving as one of its officers. Her resignation was followed by singer-songwriter and former frontman of Ben Folds Five, Ben Folds, who announced he also was out as artistic adviser to the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) following the move by Trump, The Hollywood Reporter noted.
PRESIDENTS’ DAY SALE! 40% Off DailyWire+ Annual Memberships With Code DW40
“Given the developments at the Kennedy Center, effective today I am resigning as artistic advisor to the NSO,” Folds wrote in a post on Instagram. “Not for me.”
The Kennedy Center oversees the NSO, as well as the Washington National Opera, THR noted.
The fallout continued, with actress Renee Fleming revealing a short time later she was out as artistic adviser at large, too, Deadline noted.
Trump made the announcement in a post to his social media platform Truth Social, and added that he also planned to make immediate changes to some of the events that were held there — beginning with drag shows that were intended for an audience of children.
Following the termination of Kennedy Center president Deborah Rutter, Ric Grenell, who is serving as interim president, announced on X that he had been briefed “by the CFO of the Kennedy Center on its financial situation” and said it was dire.
“She told me there is ZERO cash on hand. And ZERO in reserves,” Grenell wrote. “And the deferred maintenance is a crisis. For the past months they’ve been digging into the DEBT RESERVES.”
The Daily Wire’s managing editor, Brent Scher, added on X, “I’m told by a source inside the Kennedy Center that Grenell cut $2.4 MILLION (!!!) worth of executive salaries today. Its former president was making $1.4 million a year. Its general counsel was making over $500k. That’s absurd.”
Related: Shonda Rhimes Resigns From Kennedy Center Board After Trump Becomes Chair
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