The Trump-backed head of the Kennedy Center has called for a blacklist of artists who choose not to perform at the Washington, D.C., venue.
Ric Grenell, reacting Wednesday to headlines about cast members of Les Misérables who are planning to boycott President Donald Trumpâs scheduled appearance next month, demanded career-altering consequences for âvapid and intolerant artists.â
âAny performer who isnât professional enough to perform for patrons of all backgrounds, regardless of political affiliation, wonât be welcomed,â Grenell said in a statement to The New York Times.
âIn fact, we think it would be important to out those vapid and intolerant artists to ensure producers know who they shouldnât hire â and that the public knows which shows have political litmus tests to sit in the audience,” he continued.
The right-wing takeover of the Kennedy Center saw Trump install himself as chairman, oust all of the nominees former President Joe Biden named to the board, and name his own his allies in their place. Yet that shouldnât be a problem for artists, according to Grenell.
âThe Kennedy Center wants to be a place where people of all political stripes sit next to each other and never ask who someone voted for but instead enjoys a performance together,â he said.
Yet thatâs not the way many see the historic institution.
âThe Kennedy Center was not created in this spirit, and weâre not going to be a part of it while it is the Trump Kennedy Center,â Hamilton creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda explained upon cancelling his own performances there. âWeâre just not going to be part of it.â
Grenellâs call for a blacklist is the latest instance of his feud with Miranda.
Just yesterday, the Trump special envoy aired his grievances with ABC and American Idol for simply having Miranda mentor contestants. This, he complained, was âan obvious move to support political intolerance.â
Grenell even requested that Federal Communications Chairman Brendan Carr get involved, though what he could do about it remains unclear.