Award-winning actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein has alleged that he has been banned from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, following Donald Trump’s takeover of the institution.
Fierstein, best known for his work on Kinky Boots, Funny Girl, and La Cage Aux Folles, as well as acting roles in Mrs. Doubtfire and Independence Day, made the claim in an Instagram post. He stated that over ten of his productions had been prohibited from being staged at the Kennedy Center, many of which contained LGBTQ+ themes.
Fierstein Speaks Out
“I have been banned from The Kennedy Center,” Fierstein wrote. “A few folks have written to ask how I feel about Trump’s takeover of The Kennedy Center. How do you think I feel?”
He went on to list several of his works, including Kinky Boots, Hairspray, Safe Sex, The Sissy Duckling, La Cage Aux Folles, and Spookhouse, claiming that they had been barred from performance at the venue.
“I have been in the struggle for our civil rights for more than 50 years only to watch them snatched away by a man who actually couldn’t care less,” he continued. “He does this stuff only to placate the religious right so they’ll look the other way as he savages our political system for his own glorification.”
Fierstein also accused Trump of attacking free speech, warning, “My fellow Americans, I warn you – this is NOT how it begins. This is how freedom ENDS! Trump may have declared ‘woke’ as dead in America. We must prove him wrong.”
Kennedy Center Executive Denies Ban
Despite Fierstein’s claims, Republican Richard Grenell, who was appointed executive director of the Kennedy Center in February, denied any such ban.
“You aren’t banned. In fact, come do Hairspray or La Cage here at the Kennedy Center. This is your personal invite,” Grenell wrote on Twitter/X. “Let’s meet. If, however, you can handle diverse opinions and want to be inclusive of everyone, that is.”
Backlash Over Trump’s Takeover
Trump was named chair of the Kennedy Center in February, a move that was met with widespread criticism. In response, Shonda Rhimes, executive producer of Bridgerton, resigned from the board, and Barbie star Issa Rae also cut ties with the institution.
“Unfortunately, due to what I believe to be an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds, I’ve decided to cancel my appearance at this venue,” Rae shared in an Instagram statement.
Following Trump’s appointment, the Kennedy Center board is now entirely composed of Trump appointees. Trump himself told reporters:
“So we took over the Kennedy Center. We didn’t like what they were showing and various other things. We’re going to make sure that it’s good and it’s not going to be woke. There’s no more woke in this country.”
