Another musician has canceled a planned performance at the Kennedy Center following controversy surrounding President Donald Trump’s involvement with the institution and its name change.
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Sonia De Los Santos has withdrawn from two scheduled concerts at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
The Mexican American artist was scheduled to perform for young audiences on February 7 and participate in a “creative conversation” with attendees.
Highlights
- Grammy-nominated Sonia De Los Santos canceled two Kennedy Center concerts, citing an unwelcoming political climate at the renamed venue.
- The Kennedy Center was renamed to honor Donald Trump and John F. Kennedy, leading to multiple artist cancellations.
- Artists including Bela Fleck, Chuck Redd, and The Cookers withdrew from performances, saying the venue became politically charged.
- Kennedy Center president Richard Grenell called canceling artists “far-left political activists” and threatened legal action against Chuck Redd.
Sonia De Los Santos canceled her performances at the Kennedy Center
Image credits: soniadls/Instagram
Her cancellation adds to a growing list of artists who have pulled out of events at the venue, after it was renamed ‘The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.’
De Los Santos announced her decision in a public statement shared on Instagram. She wrote, “As an artist, I treasure the freedom to create and share my music, and for many years I have used this privilege to uplift the stories of immigrants in this country.”
“Unfortunately, I do not feel that the current climate at this beloved venue represents a welcoming space for myself, my band, or our audience.”
Her 2018 children’s album ¡Alegría! earned a Latin Grammy nomination for best children’s album. In an email to The Associated Press, De Los Santos confirmed her statement but declined to provide further comment.
A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center responded critically to her remarks. Roma Daravi challenged De Los Santos’ reference to immigration issues and said the institution remains open to everyone.
“This country was built on legal immigrants, and as a first-generation American, I find her statement highly offensive,” Daravi wrote in an email.
“Refusing to engage with an institution open to everyone is, in fact, a step towards discrimination.”
Image credits: Celal Gunes/Getty Images
The cancellation follows recent changes to the leadership and branding of the Kennedy Center. Trump removed previous board members last year and positioned himself as head of the board of trustees.
In December, the board voted “unanimously” to rebrand the venue as the Trump Kennedy Center. The claim was challenged by Rep. Joyce Beatty, an ex officio member of the Kennedy Center board, who said her microphone was “muted” when she tried to speak out against the name change.
The rebranding decision has triggered a wave of artist withdrawals. Several musicians and performers cited concerns that the center has become politically charged.
Jazz musician Chuck Redd canceled his annual Christmas Eve performance, while jazz group The Cookers, dance company Doug Varone and Dancers, and singer Kristy Lee also canceled their scheduled events.
The cancellation follows recent changes to the leadership and branding of the Kennedy Center
Image credits: The White House/Flickr
Last week, 18-time Grammy-winning banjo player Bela Fleck announced he would cancel three upcoming performances with the National Symphony Orchestra. He said, “Performing there has become charged and political, at an institution where the focus should be on the music.”
Other canceled appearances include an opera gala hosted by Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz and performances by the variety show Asian AF.
Richard Grenell, the president of the Kennedy Center, reacted strongly. He said artists canceling shows were “far-left political activists” and that they had been booked by previous leadership.
Image credits: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
“Boycotting the arts to show you support the arts is a form of derangement syndrome,” he said in a statement, threatening to sue Redd for $1 million for cancelling the Christmas Eve show, calling it “classic intolerance.”
He wrote about Fleck, “You just made it political and caved to the woke mob who wants you to perform for only Lefties. This mob pressuring you will never be happy until you only play for Democrats.”
Fleck responded, “Then the reaction of Richard Grenell is exactly what I’m talking about. That’s what I don’t want to be a part of. Now his point of view is like, ‘Okay, well, you’re the one who cancels, so you’re taking a side.’ But for me, not canceling is taking a side.”