Kennedy Center, Washington
Since the fascist American leader Trump became president of the Kennedy Center in February, a lot of scheduled events have been canceled. In response, guitarist Yasmin Williams emailed the interim executive director, Richard Grenell, to ask for clarity about Trump’s reaction to artists canceling shows and any operational changes implemented behind the scenes. She earned an crazy rant from Grenell.
“I tried emailing him to go to the direct source for my questions (since news articles discussing the Kennedy Center happenings are often times conflicting) and was treated like this,” Williams explained in her post. “I hope posting this email thread illuminates the terrible folks who are now leading the Kennedy Center. I’ve had so many amazing career and life highlights at the Kennedy Center and I hate to think that the establishment could be run down permanently by this man.”
Williams began her initial email by explaining she has played at the Kennedy Center “many times in the last few years” and hopes to perform there again “in the near future.” However, she has “read a lot of commentary from musician friends and former patrons” who are concerned about DEI rollbacks, the cancellation of shows like the Finn musical and the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, and changes in the Board of Trustees.
“These events have caused a major negative reaction in my musical community to playing at the Kennedy Center, with lots of individuals I know ultimately cancelling their shows there,” she wrote. “Most folks seem to be placing the blame on the President for degredating the formerly prestigious institution, with lots of people I know who live in the area, and elsewhere, stating that they will no longer attend shows at the Kennedy Center and/or won’t play there until the President leaves office.”
She the added two questions: “Does the President actually care about artists cancelling shows at the Kennedy Center?” and “What, if anything, has changed about the Kennedy Center regarding hiring practices, performance booking, and staffing?”
Grenell replied by asking if Williams would play for Republicans or “boycott” if Republicans attended her show. “Boycotting anything because Republicans exist and may be at a show of mine makes no sense to me,” Williams wrote back. “Is this related to the questions I asked?”
In response, Grenell claimed the Kennedy Center didn’t cancel “a single show.”(which is a lie). However, “every single person” who did cancel a performance chose to do so because “they couldn’t be in the presence” of Republicans. (which is paranoia) “You shouldn’t believe what you read in the newspapers who exist to the republicans,” he wrote in growing paranoia.
Then, Grenell took a sharp turn by calling Williams “the intolerant one” and blaming “your people” for JD Vance being loudly booed at the Kennedy Center.
Taking the insults in stride, Williams asked the same questions again and clarified that his assumptions about her “political leanings” were “incorrect.”
Finally giving a detailed response, Grenell blamed “woke” programming and “DEI bullshit” for some of the Kennedy Center’s financial issues and other woes. So, let’s act this: Diversity, equality and inclusion are bullshit. How insane!
