Court Dismisses Kennedy Center's Case Against Canceled Performer
WHO:
The Guardian - Chuck Redd, jazz drummer and vibes player
The Guardian - Richard Grenell, then president of the Kennedy Center
The Guardian - Tanya Jones Bosier, DC superior court judge
The Guardian - Lisa J Banks, one of Redd’s lawyers
WHAT:
The Guardian - A judge ordered the removal of Trump’s name from the facade and website of the Kennedy Center, ruling that the venue cannot be renamed without an act of Congress.
The Guardian - Richard Grenell, then president of the Kennedy Center, stated that Redd's decision to cancel was "classic intolerance and very costly to a non-profit Arts institution."
The Guardian - The Kennedy Center's lawsuit against Redd included an offer to settle if he paid $7,500, performed at this year’s concert, and refrained from issuing “political commentary” about his decision to withdraw.
The Guardian - A judge dismissed a breach of contract lawsuit against Chuck Redd after he canceled a Christmas Eve performance at the Kennedy Center.
The Guardian - The Kennedy Center sought $1 million in damages from Redd, labeling his cancellation a “political stunt.”
The Guardian - The lawsuit was filed in March, with an offer to settle if Redd paid $7,500 and performed at the concert.
The Guardian - Judge Tanya Jones Bosier stated there was no legally binding agreement with Redd and dismissed the lawsuit.
WHERE:
The Guardian - Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
WHEN:
The Guardian - The lawsuit was filed in March.
The Guardian - Redd did not sign the 2025 agreement.
WHY:
The Guardian - Redd canceled his performance in response to the announcement of Trump’s name being added to the Kennedy Center.
The Guardian - The lawsuit was described as political retribution against Redd for his objections to the renaming.
HOW:
The Guardian - The judge dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice, indicating that the court found the case to be without merit under the District of Columbia’s anti-SLAPP law.
The Guardian - The judge granted Redd’s motion to dismiss under the District of Columbia’s anti-SLAPP law, which aims to prevent lawsuits intended to silence opposing viewpoints.
(UPDATED June 7, 2026 17:18 UTC)
A judge has ordered the removal of Trump’s name from the facade and website of the Kennedy Center, ruling that such a renaming cannot occur without an act of Congress. In response to this decision, Richard Grenell, the former president of the Kennedy Center, criticized the move as "classic intolerance and very costly to a non-profit Arts institution." The Kennedy Center's lawsuit against Redd was dismissed with prejudice, meaning the court found the case lacked merit under the District of Columbia’s anti-SLAPP law.
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(UPDATED June 7, 2026 11:27 UTC)
A judge has dismissed a breach of contract lawsuit against jazz drummer Chuck Redd after he canceled a Christmas Eve performance at the Kennedy Center, which sought $1 million in damages, labeling the cancellation a “political stunt.” Judge Tanya Jones Bosier stated there was no legally binding agreement with Redd, who had previously objected to the renaming of the Kennedy Center in honor of Trump, leading to claims that the lawsuit was an act of political retribution. The judge granted Redd’s motion to dismiss under the District of Columbia’s anti-SLAPP law, designed to prevent lawsuits aimed at silencing opposing viewpoints.