AN actress has been blasted for canceling a John F. Kennedy Center event after President Donald Trump made himself chairman of the institution.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse star Issa Rae joins a list of entertainers having full-blown meltdowns over the president’s election win.
She used Instagram to inform everyone that her event, An Evening With Issa Rae, was being canceled, and advised those who had bought tickets to request a refund.
In her post, she expressed that she felt the institution hosting the event did not uphold the values of celebrating artists from different backgrounds across various mediums, leading her to decide to cancel her appearance.
After Trump appointed himself chairman of the cultural center in Washington DC, established entertainers made a huge show of stepping out.
The newly inaugurated president has dismissed Joe Biden-appointed board members and replaced them with his own supporters.
The new board swiftly appointed Trump to the vacant position and removed the previous president, Deb Rutting, in favor of Richard Grenell, who had previously served as the ambassador to Germany, as the temporary president.
Singer Ben Folds, who was the artistic advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra, bizarrely stepped away from the position that he’s held since the beginning of Trump’s first term.
“Not for me,” he wrote on Instagram.
“It’s been a wonderful 8 years working with Kennedy Center President Deb Rutter, fellow artistic advisor Renee Fleming, and the entire NSO staff, encouraging thousands of fresh new audiences to appreciate symphonic music.
“Mostly, and above all, I will miss the musicians of our nation’s symphony orchestra – just the best!”
Fleming has also stepped down, alongside other Hollywood mainstay Shonda Rhimes, the creator of Grey’s Anatomy, who was on the board.
Rae, known for co-creating and starring in the HBO series Insecure, was roasted by critics for leaving her fans hanging after the abrupt move.
“Another liberal with zero class,” said an outraged X user.
Another critic wrote, “She is acting childish and petulant. Grow up already.”
Others called her move “selfish” as she left fans hanging high and dry by canceling the event just one month before it was set to take place.
Rae is a 40-year-old Hollywood daring who has scored multiple Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for her work on television and film.
In 2015, she published her memoir The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, which became a New York Times bestseller.
When Trump dismantled the Kennedy Center board, he mentioned a slew of past cultural events targeted at more liberal audiences.
“Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured drag shows specifically targeting our youth – this will stop,” he said on Truth Social, referencing an event called Broadway Drag Brunch, which featured a drag story hour.
“The Kennedy Center is an American jewel, and must reflect the brightest stars on its stage from all across our nation.
“For the Kennedy Center, the best is yet to come.”
