12 min read
The push to rebrand the Kennedy Center has been halted by a federal judge. Here are the key points:
- The Court Ruling: In a May 29 ruling, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper stated that the board of trustees, which had been handpicked by President Trump, “acted illegally” when they voted to add the president’s name to the venue. The judge emphasized that the center’s name was established by Congress in 1964 as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy, and “only Congress can change it”.
- The Removal Process: The Kennedy Center’s general counsel sent a memo to staff on June 4, instructing them to remove all references to “Trump” from the premises. The court gave the center until June 12 to comply fully.
- The Current Status: The center has already begun to comply. The most noticeable change has been on its website, which was updated on June 8 to remove “Trump” from its branding. However, as of the same date, the large physical signs on the building’s facade still displayed the former “Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center” name.
🎤 Bill Maher’s Twain Prize Guest List Revealed
Amid the legal dispute over the venue’s name, the Kennedy Center announced the lineup of presenters for comedian Bill Maher’s Mark Twain Prize ceremony, scheduled for June 28.
The guest list is comprised of a mix of entertainers and media personalities:
- Confirmed Guest Speakers: The list includes musician John Mellencamp, comedian Jay Leno (a previous Twain Prize recipient), and comedian Whitney Cummings.
- Other Guests: Other notable attendees expected to participate include comedian Louis C.K. (who has faced controversy over past misconduct), and controversial ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith. Actor Woody Harrelson, singer John Mellencamp, and HuffPost co-founder Arianna Huffington are also set to appear.
The announcement of Maher as the award recipient itself was part of a back-and-forth with the White House, which had initially called reports of his selection “fake news”.
If you would like to know more about either of these stories, feel free to ask.