Kennedy Center Director Richard Grenell has publicly criticized members of the touring cast of Les Misérables for planning to boycott a June 11 performance at the Kennedy Center, which President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend. Grenell labeled the actors as “vapid and intolerant,” asserting that the Kennedy Center “will no longer fund intolerance.”
The planned boycott involves approximately 10 to 12 cast members, including both principal and ensemble performers, who have chosen to opt out of the performance due to political objections to President Trump’s attendance. This protest follows significant changes at the Kennedy Center, including President Trump’s appointment of himself as chairman and the installation of Grenell as interim director.
Grenell emphasized that performers unwilling to entertain audiences regardless of political affiliation would not be welcomed at the Kennedy Center. He suggested that such behavior could impact future employment prospects, stating that it is important for producers to be aware of artists who impose political litmus tests on their audiences.
The controversy has sparked broader discussions about the role of politics in the arts and the expectations placed on performers. The Kennedy Center, traditionally a nonpartisan institution, has become a focal point in the national conversation about artistic expression and political influence.
