A judge in Washington has mandated that the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts compensate jazz artist Chuck Redd with over $250,000 in legal fees. This ruling follows the dismissal of the center’s lawsuit against Redd for breach of contract. In 2025, Redd, an American drummer and vibraphonist also known as Charles, withdrew from his role as host of the center’s annual free Christmas Eve concert in protest of the addition of Donald Trump’s name to the building’s exterior.
Redd’s attorney, Lisa J. Banks, stated to CBC News that dealing with unfounded and politically motivated lawsuits from the Trump Administration should not be necessary for any citizen. Redd, who has been a regular performer at the center’s Christmas Eve concerts, canceled his appearance last year after the controversial naming incident.
Following Redd’s withdrawal, the Kennedy Center threatened to sue him for $1 million, citing intolerance and accusing him of engaging in a legal stunt. However, the lawsuit was later dismissed by a Washington judge, citing the center’s failure to present a valid breach of contract claim.
A federal judge ruled in May that the addition of Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center was unlawful. This decision stemmed from a conflict that began when Trump dismissed David Rubinstein, the long-time chair of the Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees. Since then, various figures in the arts and culture sphere, including Canadian author Louise Penny, Shonda Rhimes, and Issa Rae, have distanced themselves from the center or canceled planned engagements.
The Kennedy Center has confirmed the removal of Trump’s name from its facade, with only the words “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” remaining visible. The center plans to appeal the judge’s decision, while Redd’s legal team praised the ruling as appropriate. The Kennedy Center, known for hosting over 2,000 events annually and housing the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera, remains a prominent cultural institution in Washington.
