A judge in Washington has ruled that the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts must compensate jazz artist Chuck Redd with over $250,000 in legal fees. This decision follows the dismissal of the center’s lawsuit against Redd for breach of contract by the same judge, Tanya Jones Bosier of the District of Columbia Superior Court.
In 2025, Redd, a renowned American drummer and vibraphonist, withdrew from his annual hosting duties at the center’s free Christmas Eve concert due to the controversial addition of Donald Trump’s name to the building’s facades. In response to the lawsuit by the center, Redd’s lawyer, Lisa J. Banks, emphasized that no individual should have to endure unfounded and politically motivated legal actions from the Trump Administration.
Redd, who had been a staple performer at the center’s Christmas Eve concerts for years, opted out of the event last year after Trump’s name was prominently displayed on the building. The center threatened legal action against Redd, seeking $1 million in damages for his last-minute withdrawal, citing intolerance and asserting it as a legal maneuver.
Despite the center’s legal pursuit, the lawsuit was eventually dismissed by the Washington judge due to insufficient grounds for a breach of contract claim as disclosed by legal documents examined by CBC News.
The controversy surrounding the Kennedy Center escalated when a federal judge declared that Trump’s name had been unlawfully added to the venue. This conflict originated from Trump’s overhaul of the center, including the removal of long-standing chair David Rubinstein.
Numerous figures in the arts and culture realm have distanced themselves from the center or canceled appearances since the alterations, with prominent names like Canadian author Louise Penny, Shonda Rhimes, and Issa Rae among them. The Kennedy Center has confirmed the removal of Trump’s name from its exterior, with only the original name, “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,” remaining visible.
The Kennedy Center intends to challenge the court ruling, while Redd’s legal representatives view the judge’s decision as fitting, highlighting the center’s attempt to stifle opposition to the unauthorized name change through a baseless lawsuit against Chuck Redd. The Kennedy Center, a prominent institution hosting over 2,000 events annually, serves as the official home of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera.