A judge in Washington has ruled that the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts must pay jazz artist Chuck Redd over $250,000 in legal fees. This decision follows the dismissal of the center’s lawsuit against Redd for breach of contract by Judge Tanya Jones Bosier from the District of Columbia Superior Court.
In 2025, Charles Redd, an American drummer and vibraphonist, withdrew from his long-standing role as the host of the center’s annual free Christmas Eve concert. This move was in response to the controversial decision to add Donald Trump’s name to the building’s exterior. Redd’s lawyer, Lisa J. Banks, stated that no individual should have to endure baseless lawsuits motivated by politics.
Redd had been a regular host and performer at the center’s Christmas Eve concerts for years. However, he withdrew from the event last year shortly after Trump’s name was affixed to the building. The Kennedy Center threatened to sue Redd for his last-minute withdrawal, citing intolerance and seeking $1 million in damages. The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed by the Washington judge due to the lack of a valid breach of contract claim.
In a separate development, a federal judge ruled that Trump’s name had been unlawfully added to the Kennedy Center. This decision was part of an ongoing conflict initiated when Trump assumed control of the center, leading to the dismissal of longtime chair David Rubinstein. Since then, various figures in the arts and culture industry have distanced themselves from the center or canceled appearances.
The Kennedy Center confirmed the removal of Trump’s name from its facade in June. Despite this, a tarp still concealed the scaffolding, making it difficult to ascertain the current wording on the building. The center plans to appeal the decision regarding Trump’s name removal, while Redd’s legal team praised the judge’s ruling as appropriate.
The Kennedy Center, a prominent venue hosting over 2,000 events annually and home to the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera, continues to be a focal point of artistic and cultural activities in Washington, D.C.
