A judge in Washington has ruled that the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts must compensate jazz artist Chuck Redd with over $250,000 in legal fees. This decision follows the dismissal of the center’s lawsuit against Redd for breach of contract by the same judge, Tanya Jones Bosier of the District of Columbia Superior Court.
In 2025, Redd, an American musician known as Charles, withdrew from his role as host of the center’s annual Christmas Eve concert in response to the controversial addition of Donald Trump’s name to the building’s facade. Redd’s lawyer, Lisa J. Banks, stated that no individual should have to deal with unfounded and politically motivated lawsuits from the Trump Administration.
Redd had been a longstanding host and performer at the center’s Christmas Eve concerts. However, he backed out of the event last year after Trump’s name was prominently displayed on the building. The center threatened to sue Redd for canceling the performance, citing financial damages of $1 million, but the case was later dismissed by the judge due to insufficient evidence of a breach of contract.
The situation escalated when a federal judge ruled that the addition of Trump’s name to the Kennedy Center was illegal. This ruling stemmed from conflicts that arose when Trump assumed control of the center, leading to the removal of key figures like the former chairman, David Rubinstein.
Since then, numerous figures in the arts and culture community have distanced themselves from the center or canceled appearances, including Canadian author Louise Penny, Shonda Rhimes, and Issa Rae. The letters spelling out Trump’s name have been removed from the facade, with the center confirming the change in June.
The Kennedy Center plans to appeal the judge’s decision, while Redd’s legal team supported the ruling, calling the center’s lawsuit against him baseless. The Kennedy Center is a prominent venue hosting over 2,000 events annually and serving as the home of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera.