Issa Rae cancels Kennedy Center show after Donald Trump takeover

Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News on Feb 14, 2025

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NEW YORK — Actress Issa Rae has pulled the plug on her show at Kennedy Center amid Donald Trump’s takeover of the prestigious Washington, D.C., venue.

The “Insecure” star canceled a sold-out show at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, citing “an infringement of values” after the president terminated board members and installed his own members who this week elected him as chairman.

Rae, 40, announced Thursday on her Instagram story that she would no longer host “An Evening with Issa Rae” scheduled for March 16.

“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 wrote.

The Los Angeles native added that all tickets will be refunded.

In his effort to combat what he called “woke” and “terrible” programming at the Kennedy Center, Trump said he would fire anyone who does not share his “Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture.”

“We took over the Kennedy Center,” he said about his takeover. “We didn’t like what they were showing and various other things.”

Newly appointed board members include “God Bless the U.S.A” singer Lee Greenwood; Usha Vance, the wife of Vice President J.D. Vance; White House chief of staff Susie Wiles; and White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino.

“I’m going to be chairman of it, and we’re going to make sure that it’s good and it’s not going to be woke,” Trump said.

Rae isn’t the only artist to abandon forthcoming plans. Philadelphia-based rock and soul band Low Cut Connie announced on Instagram they would no longer play the Kennedy Center next month.

“I was very excited to perform as part of this wonderful institution’s Social Impact series, which emphasizes community, joy, justice, and equity through the arts,” frontman Adam Weiner wrote. “Upon learning that this institution that has been nonpartisan for 54 years is now chaired by President Trump himself and his regime, I decided I will not perform there.”

The band was considered a favorite of former President Barack Obama, who put their “Boozophilia” on his first summer playlist in 2015.

Other Kennedy Center defectors include board members like TV producer Shonda Rhimes, classical singer Renee Fleming and pop musician Ben Folds, who served as artistic director to the National Symphony Orchestra, which performs at the Kennedy Center.