Kennedy Center Director Seeks Damages Over Canceled Jazz Performance

The Kennedy Center’s director is pursuing $1 million in damages from a jazz musician who canceled a scheduled performance after the arts center was renamed to include President Donald Trump’s name.

Ambassador Richard Grenell, in a letter sent on Sunday, expressed that the musician’s last-minute cancellation of the Dec. 24 Jazz Jam performance was a “political stunt” intended to protest the renaming to the Donald J. Trump John F. Kennedy Memorial Performing Arts Center. He noted that the cancellation led to a “significant” financial loss for the center, citing poor ticket sales and diminished donor support.

Grenell wrote, “Your decision to withdraw at the last minute, in response to the center’s recent renaming to honor President Trump’s extraordinary efforts, is classic intolerance and comes at a steep price for a nonprofit arts institution. This is your official notice that we are seeking $1 million in damages from you for this political act. Stunt.”

Mr. Reed, the musician in question, told The Associated Press that he had explicitly withdrawn from the show due to the name change.

In his letter, Grenell pointed out that Reed’s performance had not sold well and that the center plans to keep hosting jazz events to attract audiences, regardless of their political views.

“Unfortunately, your actions fall to the unfortunate bullying tactics displayed by certain groups on the left,” Grenell continued, mentioning that attempts were made to intimidate artists into boycotting performances at the National Cultural Center.

Efforts to renovate the Kennedy Center began in 2025, led by Trump and Grenell, attracting larger donors than during the previous administration. Trump himself participated in the board’s activities as chairman starting in February.

Neither the Kennedy Center nor Reed responded immediately to requests for comments.