President Trump’s takeover of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington has prompted an outcry in the cultural community, with several artists resigning their posts at the center.
Mr. Trump made himself chairman of the center on Wednesday, a few days after he purged the board of Biden appointees. The new board, stacked with Trump loyalists, elected Mr. Trump chairman and fired the Kennedy Center’s longtime president, Deborah F. Rutter. The board named Richard Grenell, who was ambassador to Germany during the first Trump administration, interim president.
The new leadership has moved swiftly to reshape the Kennedy Center’s upper ranks. In addition to Ms. Rutter, several other longtime staff members were fired on Wednesday, including top officials overseeing public relations and governance.
Here’s a look at the stars who have resigned from the Kennedy Center in the wake of Mr. Trump’s takeover.
Renée Fleming
The renowned soprano said Wednesday that she would step down as an artistic adviser to the Kennedy Center. In a statement, she did not mention Mr. Trump but praised David M. Rubenstein, the center’s ousted chairman, and Ms. Rutter, and said that “out of respect, I think it right to depart as well.”
“I’ve treasured the bipartisan support for this institution as a beacon of America at our best,” she added. “I hope the Kennedy Center continues to flourish and serve the passionate and diverse audience in our nation’s capital and across the country.”
Ms. Fleming is still scheduled to perform at a Kennedy Center concert in May celebrating American composers, including Samuel Barber, Leonard Bernstein and Margaret Bonds. The concert is presented by Washington National Opera.
Ben Folds
The singer and songwriter said he would resign his post as an adviser to the National Symphony Orchestra, which is overseen by the Kennedy Center.
“Given developments at the Kennedy Center, effective today I am resigning as artistic adviser to the N.S.O.,” Mr. Folds wrote on Instagram. “Mostly, and above all, I will miss the musicians of our nation’s symphony orchestra — just the best!”
Shonda Rhimes
Ms. Rhimes, a famed television producer and writer, resigned as treasurer of the Kennedy Center’s board on Wednesday, a spokeswoman for Ms. Rhimes said.
On Wednesday evening, Ms. Rhimes posted a quote from John F. Kennedy on Instagram: “If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist fee to follow his vision wherever it takes him.”
