Kennedy Center ordered to pay $250K to musician who canceled his appearance in protest of Donald Trump

Kennedy Center ordered to pay $250K to musician who canceled his appearance in protest of Donald Trump Jazz musician Chuck Redd was sued by the performing arts center after backing out of a concert, but a judge later dismissed the case - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts has been ordered to pay more than $250,000 to a jazz musician who canceled his appearance in protest of Donald Trump. Chuck Redd was part of a wave of artists who refused to perform at the arts center in Washington, D.C. after members of the Trump-appointed board voted to put the president’s name on the building last December. A legal battle between Redd and the Kennedy Center ensued, and D.C. Judge Tanya M. Jones Bosier sided with the musician, awarding him $252,479.70 for attorneys’ fees and other legal fees on Monday. A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center said it plans to appeal. Redd had backed out of the annual Christmas Eve Jazz Jam at the Kennedy Center, which he had hosted for two decades, because he found the building's name change illegal, according to court documents obtained by The Independent. The Kennedy Center sued Redd in March 2025 for breach of contract, claiming that the musician “chose to abuse the public forum provided to him by the Center to make a political statement, and to deprive the public of the concert he promised.” But Judge Jones Bosier dismissed the lawsuit later that month, stating that Redd never signed a contract with the Kennedy Center for the holiday concert. Jones Bosier further argued that even assuming there was a contract, the Kennedy Center had not provided enough evidence to show that Redd breached it. The Kennedy Center will have 45 days to pay Redd’s attorney fees, according to Monday’s order. Redd’s attorney, Lisa Banks, said in a statement to The Independent: “The Trump-controlled Kennedy Center tried to silence opposition to its illegal name change by filing a meritless lawsuit against jazz musician Chuck Redd. “The court rightly dismissed that breach of contract lawsuit, finding there was no contract and no damages, and was brought against Mr. Redd based on his protected opposition.” Banks said Jones Bosier’s new order is “appropriate,” adding, “no citizen should have to spend time and money fending off baseless and politically motivated lawsuits filed by the Trump Administration.” The Kennedy Center was one of several buildings in D.C. that had Trump’s name slapped on it during his second term. The building was designated as a living memorial to Kennedy in January 1964, two months after he was assassinated, in a law passed by Congress. In May, U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper ordered Trump’s name be removed from the Kennedy Center, stating, “Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name, and only Congress can change it.” Weeks later, construction crews were seen removing Trump’s name from the building. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments [Image text:] THE PERFORMING IS HE DONALDJ.TRUMP ID EMORIAL CENTER F E JOHNF.KENNED