Kennedy Center president rages at 'Hamilton' stars 'cosplaying as victims'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Raw Story

June 23, 2025 9:01PM ET


Stars of the Broadway musical "Hamilton" drew the ire of Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell on Monday after announcing a boycott. Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote and stars in the musical, and producer Jefferey Seller have said they will not perform the 2026 run of their Pulitzer Prize-winning drama at the Kennedy Center. Multiple other artists are boycotting the Kennedy Center as a protest against President Donald Trump's policies.

Grenell, who served as acting director of national intelligence during Trump's first term, said in a lengthy statement posted on X that the boycotting stars are "cosplay[ing] as victims of intolerance." "I cannot begin to understand what business it is of Mr. Seller or Mr. Miranda how audience members vote or how it could possibly be relevant to the sacred relationship between performers and ticket holders, but they've made it clear that they won't perform for audiences that might contain Americans who disagree with them on matters irrelevant to the arts," Grenell wrote.

The boycott of the Kennedy Center has brewed for several months. After taking office, Trump dismissed all of the Kennedy Center board members and replaced them with loyalists. In turn, performers have boycotted Trump's attendance at Kennedy Center events, and attendees have booed and jeered at Trump when he was introduced at the Kennedy Center.

Democratic senators have also planned to host a Pride concert at the Kennedy Center in protest of Trump's anti-LGBTQ policies. To Grenell, Miranda and Seller's decision to not perform at the Kennedy Center seemed to be a step too far.

Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/msn/kennedy-center-2672420243/

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REFERENCE - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143484623

[yardwork]

1. The performers are not your slaves, Grenell.

They're not obligated to perform in your venue.

America, land of the free, remember?

[tanyev]

2. Weird that Grenell would want something as woke as Hamilton to play at the Trumpified Kennedy Center.

Founding Fathers rapping! Women playing soldiers! Contributions of immigrants celebrated! Women playing a critical role in the founding of the nation!

I can just see Grenell trying to book them and then demanding, "There's just a few parts we want you to rewrite, OK?"

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Yeah this wouldn't go well with that crowd

[delisen]

20. Grenell, Just line up The Producers, and Cabaret. nt

[tanyev]

23. The audience can stand up and unironically sing along with Tomorrow Belongs To Me.

[ananda]

35. And The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

teehee

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

57. Or commission a Producers Spin-off ....

Springtime for Hitler - The true story of an unappreciated genius!

It would really draw in the MAGA crowds.

[hlthe2b]

30. Grenell/Trump et al will commission a musical version of "The Birth of a Nation"...

Youngsters, I'll share you the need to google:

https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/02/08/383279630/100-years-later-whats-the-legacy-of-birth-of-a-nation

[MyOwnPeace]

36. "There's just a few parts we want you to rewrite, OK?"

INDEED!!!!!!

They'd probably demand a walk-on solo spot for Lee Greenwood too!

[drmeow]

52. Ah, but you see

Hamilton was wildly successful and made lots of money - remember money lightens skin, removes accents, and forgives any past immigration transgressions.

Just in case it's needed

[twodogsbarking]

3. Shove that guilt trip up with the other shit.

[wolfie001]

4. christo-fascist Nazi swine

This clown is "judging" artistic merit and accomplishment. He would have been quite comfortable in 1934 Germany. Excuse me while I go and vomit.



Just some background on this spineless, feckless backstabber of all things involving Gay and Transgender rights:

*During the 2016 Republican primaries, Grenell warned his Twitter followers about Donald Trump, describing him as "unserious", "reckless", and "dangerous". Grenell deleted all of his negative tweets about Trump after Trump became the Republican nominee. Grenell then began praising Trump regularly on Fox News and on Twitter.[34]

*Wikipedia

[SunSeeker]

12. So he's closeted?

Seems like all Republicans obsessed with opposing gay and trans rights are.

[TommyT139]

16. No, he's out.

Seems not to be married, though, which I infer from Wikipedia's use of "domestic partner" rather than "husband" for his partner, who is named there.

I don't care enough to check on that, though.

[wolfie001]

54. He's wealthy so he doesn't have to deal with the average american violator of human rights

He's above all of that flotsam and jetsam. Just like Peter Thiel. Another

[kimbutgar]

32. He looks like the reincarnation of that Nazi in the picture.

Just like Stephen miller looks like Goebbels.

[wolfie001]

53. Yes! The first Nazi I thought of when I saw his mug

tRUMP bootlicker.

[Prairie Gates]

6. Grenell knows damn well that people boycotting don't care how their audience members vote

They care how the leadership of venues treat people, as should we all.

[eShirl]

7. Grenell should have stopped at, "I cannot begin to understand "

[eppur_se_muova]

27. The GOP motto ? Or should it be "I don't care enough to try to understand" ? nt

[mpcamb]

8. " the sacred relationship between performers and ticket holders"... Do you mean money, Dick,

or the Arts?
Go count your consulting fees from Viktor Orbán!

[Staph]

9. "Immigrants!"

"We get the job done!"

[Paladin]

10. Fuck off, Grenell. (nt)

[William Seger]

11. Grenell is clueless

"I cannot begin to understand what business it is of Mr. Seller or Mr. Miranda how audience members vote or how it could possibly be relevant to the sacred relationship between performers and ticket holders, but they've made it clear that they won't perform for audiences that might contain Americans who disagree with them on matters irrelevant to the arts," Grenell wrote.

Grenell is a fuckwit who sucks at projecting. Miranda "made it clear" that the decision is because of RUMP's politicization of the Center, which is undeniable. Does Grenell really have NO CLUE what the problem is, or does he not have the integrity to deal with it honestly? Doesn't matter -- either way, he's another unfit appointment.

[niyad]

17. Hey, rick, exactly WHAT matters are "irrelevant to the Arts", and why?

[Hieronymus Phact]

25. He knows what he's saying

This is gaslighting to the fox audience, it's not even intended for you.
I wish people would understand this simple fact about repubs. - They're not talking to you!
They don't care if you find it stupid, clownish, ignorant or whatever, they don't care what you say about it.
The intention is gaslighting their ignorant base, not communicating with anyone outside that.

[MyOwnPeace]

38. You got THAT right!

He's passing out today's 'Talking Points for Idiots' - preparing the cult for when they go out into the 'real world' and find that THEY are the idiots and that they are blind to reality.
Unfortunately, they 'took those "talking points" to the polls last November.

[SunSeeker]

13. It is you who's "cosplaying," Grenell. nt

[C_U_L8R]

14. May I suggest a puppet show instead.

That seems to be about as much culture as Grenell can handle.

[Gimpyknee]

15. Replace with Ted Nugent concert?

[BumRushDaShow]

18. Featuring

Kid Rock and Kanye.

[JohnnyRingo]

19. He only got that job because he's a MAGA. Now he doesn't like partisan politics?

People weren't fired from the Kennedy Center because of their views of the arts, it was because they were too liberal to vote for Grenell's boss.
He has a lot of nerve to criticize artists for not complying with the venue whitewash.

Here's a quarter, call Greenwood and The Village People and book them as residents.

[Sparkly]

21. "matters irrelevant to the arts"

Why did the mad king interject himself into the center in the first place if politics are irrelevant to the arts?! He made it relevant, and he made the boycott appropriate.

[mn9driver]

22. He's just doing his job, keeping Donnie two scoops in every story.

Every one of Assclown’s appointees has just one function: Make the story about MAGA grievance. That’s what they do.

[Hotler]

24. Whiner. And when did MAGA ever accept Americans that disagreed with them? nt

[twodogsbarking]

26. How do you explain morals to someone who has none.

[Ritabert]

28. The cast is right

You have to stand up to a dictator wannabe while you still can.

[spudspud]

29. "I cannot begin to understand...

...what business it is of Mr. Seller or Mr. Miranda how audience members vote or how it could possibly be relevant to the sacred relationship between performers and ticket holders, but they've made it clear that they won't perform for audiences that might contain Americans who disagree with them on matters irrelevant to the arts," Grenell wrote.

TRANSLATION --> "Shut up and dribble."

[yardwork]

42. "...on matters irrelevant to the arts."

I missed that amid all the other howlers.

The arts have always been about commenting on politics and other issues. Notably true of the production Hamilton. This moron doesn't have a clue about "the arts."

[kimbutgar]

31. Isn't he the same guy who's going to run for governor of California ?

Shouldn’t he be in the state raising his profile ?

And attacking actors will not gain in votes in California!

[republianmushroom]

33. Center President Grenell, you have a lot to live and learn.

Maybe little dude it is the way DICK-tator trump screwed over the previous board members and not how the audience votes. Duh

[JHB]

34. "Cosplaying as victims"?

There are no greater practitioners of "cosplaying as victims" as MAGA.

[Bluetus]

40. Theater is, by definition, cosplaying. That is what actors do.

Does this guy not understand that the lead character is not really Alexander Hamilton? It is an actor named Tyler Fauntleroy.

There are a couple of give-aways (spoiler alert):

1) Hamilton is dead. Has been for a minute.
2) Hamilton was white.

[BobTheSubgenius]

37. Did anyone else find the word "sacred" jarring?

A pretty overblown, grandiose description of what is, at the end of the day, a mercantile transaction.

[yardwork]

41. Anything MAGA does is sacred. To them.

[AllaN01Bear]

46. this one did.

hem.

[Grins]

48. Yes. Trump once said "our sacred elections..." And I'm all WTF?

Especially from him!

[choie]

39. It's not about the performers not liking the voting record of the audience.

It's about them finding trump and his takeover of the Kennedy Center (including Grenell's ascension as director) despicable.

[Karasu]

43. Dude clearly doesn't know WTF cosplay is. Maybe Kristi Noem could show him a thing or two.

[ultralite001]

44. More power to them...

TIA

[Cha]

45. Blah Blah Blah Fascist Fuck Grenell.. sTFU.

Thanks BRDS

[Grins]

47. " the sacred relationship between performers and ticket holders?"

Sacred, Gracie…?

[Montauk6]

49. Strange...

For some reason, I thought TacoTSF made himself the head honcho for the whole Kennedy Center enchilada.

[VanceFan]

50. Good

I applaud the Hamilton actors. No one with a conscience should play at the Kennedy Center now. Let them have Greenwood, Nugent, Kid Rock and the other has-beens.

[Ladythatvotesblue]

51. Kennedy Center

is there to express the Arts and Culture. To teach, and entertain.
The current administration is here to push ideas that belong in the dark ages.

[mdbl]

55. The Kennedy Center is now a sick joke taken over by a heathenistic moron with no artistic inclinations.

I am of course talking about the orange buffoon.

[Joinfortmill]

56. Good. Resist!