A judge in Washington has ruled that the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts must compensate jazz musician Chuck Redd with over $250,000 in legal fees. This decision follows the dismissal of a lawsuit by the center against Redd for breach of contract, presided over by Judge Tanya Jones Bosier of the District of Columbia Superior Court.
In 2025, Redd, a renowned American drummer and vibraphonist also known as Charles, withdrew from his long-standing role as host of the center’s annual free Christmas Eve concert. He made this decision in protest of the center’s controversial action of adding Donald Trump’s name to the building’s white marble portico.
Redd’s attorney, Lisa J. Banks, expressed in a statement to CBC News that it was unjust for Redd to face politically motivated lawsuits from the Trump Administration. The musician had been a fixture at the center’s Christmas Eve concerts for years but pulled out of the last-minute performance after Trump’s name was affixed to the building.
Following Redd’s cancellation, the Kennedy Center threatened legal action, citing intolerance and seeking $1 million in damages. However, the lawsuit was later dismissed by the Washington judge due to 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, marking the beginning of a series of conflicts initiated when Trump took charge of the center and dismissed key figures in leadership. This move led to several artists dissociating from the center or canceling scheduled appearances.
The Kennedy Center confirmed the removal of Trump’s name from its facade, although a tarp remained hanging over the scaffolded area at the time. The center plans to appeal the judge’s decision, while Redd’s legal team commended the ruling as appropriate, denouncing the center’s attempt to stifle opposition to the renaming.
The Kennedy Center, known for hosting over 2,000 events annually and serving as the official home of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera, continues to be embroiled in controversy stemming from the renaming dispute.