CNN is facing backlash after falsely reporting that cast members of Les Misérables would boycott opening night at the Kennedy Center because of President Donald Trump’s attendance. Former Ambassador Ric Grenell, now head of the Kennedy Center, condemned the outlet as “sick and manipulative” for promoting what he called a baseless, politically charged narrative.
The network’s May 7 article, citing unnamed sources, claimed that up to a dozen performers were planning to sit out the June 11 performance in protest. CNN wrote that both major and ensemble cast members were allegedly opting out due to Trump’s presence. The story was picked up by multiple outlets, fueling speculation of an anti-Trump protest.
Grenell responded forcefully, stating that any performer unwilling to perform for all patrons, regardless of political affiliation, “won’t be welcomed.” He emphasized the importance of exposing what he described as “vapid and intolerant artists” to producers and the public, rejecting any form of political litmus test in the arts.
On the evening of the event, the musical went on as scheduled — with no visible boycott. The performance played to a sold-out audience that included President Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance, Attorney General Pam Bondi, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and other top officials and Kennedy Center board members.
After the show, Grenell pointed out the complete absence of protest, slamming CNN for spreading misinformation. “Most every news outlet in the U.S. simply repeated the same anonymously sourced item. No outlet did original reporting,” he posted. “The story was fake news. I knew it at the time but wanted to wait to prove it to the world.”
Grenell criticized CNN’s refusal to correct its original story, which still contains the unverified claim. The article was updated only to state that it was “not immediately clear” how many cast members followed through. Grenell concluded, “They aren’t interested in accuracy — they are about attention and clicks. It’s sick and manipulative and immoral.”
President Trump, speaking before the show, dismissed the boycott rumors, saying, “I couldn’t care less, honestly I couldn’t… All I do is run the country – well.”
