"I have withdrawn from my upcoming performance with the NSO at The Kennedy Center. Performing there has become charged and political, at an institution where the focus should be on the music. I look forward to playing with the NSO another time in the future when we can together share and celebrate art."
"You just made it political and caved to the woke mob who wants you to perform for only Lefties. This mob pressuring you will never be happy until you only play for Democrats. The Trump Kennedy Center believes all people are welcome Democrats and Republicans and people uninterested in politics. We want performers who aren't political who simply love entertaining everyone regardless of who they voted for."
"I didn't make it political, it already was and there was no mob pressuring me. Music should be about expression, creativity and inclusivity. This current dialogue doesn't seem to be about any of those things."
Béla Fleck canceled three upcoming performances with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, saying performing there has become charged and political and calling for focus on the music. The NSO did not respond to requests for comment. Kennedy Center president Richard Grenell posted on X accusing Fleck of caving to a "woke mob" and asserting the center wants apolitical performers who entertain all audiences. Fleck replied that he did not make the situation political and that music should emphasize expression, creativity, and inclusivity. The cancellations occur amid broad administrative and curatorial changes at the Kennedy Center. In February 2025, the center saw the firing of Deborah Rutter and the ouster of David Rubenstein.
Read at www.npr.org
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