Kennedy Center director says "intolerance" will no longer be funded after some 'Les Miserables' actors threaten to sit out the night Trump attends

Donald Trump is set to attend the Kennedy Center for a fundraiser and a show of Les Misérables in June. While there’s still more than a month left until the US President’s appearance at the JFK Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, reports of his boycott have already emerged, according to a story published by CNN.

Richard Grenell, president and interim executive director of the Kennedy Center, has taken a firm stance against the rumors of the boycott. The Republican issued a statement pertaining to CNN’s exclusive report and said (via Entertainment Weekly),

“We haven’t heard this rumor. But the Kennedy Center will no longer fund intolerance.”

Grenell further chastised the performers, who are potentially planning to boycott Donald Trump during the Les Misérables show,

“Any performer who isn’t professional enough to perform for patrons of all backgrounds, regardless of political affiliation, won’t be welcomed.”

The statement continues,

“In fact, we think it would be important to out those vapid and intolerant artists to ensure producers know who they shouldn’t hire — and that the public knows which shows have political litmus tests to sit in the audience.”

Grenell concluded his statement by asserting that the Kennedy Center wants to be a place that welcomes people from all political backgrounds.

“The 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.”

For those unaware, the US President appointed Richard Grenell as president and interim executive director of the center in February, within a few weeks after his second inauguration. The Republican diplomat succeeded Deborah Rutter, who had served as the president of the Kennedy Center since 2014. Grenell also serves as the special presidential envoy for special missions for the second Trump administration.

CNN reported that 10 to 12 Les Misérables performers might boycott Trump during his attendance at the Kennedy Center

As mentioned, the US President will attend the Washington D.C.-based cultural center and theater before his 79th birthday. Trump’s appearance will be pertaining to a fundraiser (confirmed by ABC News), while he will also be in attendance to watch a show of Les Misérables. According to CNN, some sources told the network that 10 to 12 performers have plans to boycott the show on June 11.

The report suggests that the cast was given a choice to “not perform” on the night of Trump’s attendance at the Kennedy Center. Per CNN, both lead actors and the ensemble cast members will be exercising the choice they were provided. However, after Richard Grenell’s recent statement, it is unclear whether the performers will actually sit out when Donald Trump attends the show.

For those unaware, the current US President has been critical of the Kennedy Center’s previous board and even vowed to make it great again. In February, Trump fired the previous board members and chairman, David Rubenstein, to succeed him.

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A few months after the US President assumed the key position, Republican lawmakers reportedly approved a $257 million budget for the Kennedy Center, according to The New York Times.

According to the outlet, the figure is about six times the usual budget and will be allocated towards capital repairs and other expenses.

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