Issa Rae cancels Kennedy Center show as staff panic about Trump's woke purge

Actress Issa Rae cancelled her sold-out show at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in protest of Donald Trump and his purge on wokeness. 

The 'Insecure' star, 40, thanked her fans for supporting her 'An Evening with Issa Rae' show on her Instagram story on Thursday, but said she would not perform because of what she saw as an 'infringement on the values' of the venue. 

'Unfortunately, due to what I believe to be an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds through all mediums, I've decided to cancel my appearance at this venue,' she wrote. 

'All tickets will be refunded. Thank you so much for understanding and I hope to see you soon.'  

Rae made the announcement less than a week after Trump fired the Kennedy Center's board and made himself chairman. 

The actress' event was set to be a one-night-only show on Sunday evening, and was billed as a 'night of cozy ambience, big laughs, and all the nostalgic feels' and a 'night of connection with your community in a vibrant atmosphere.' 

'We’re talking candid convos and the kind of fun you can only have when you mix games, music, a glass of Viarae prosecco, Chocolate City vibes, and a room full of cool people (that’s y’all),' the Kennedy Center said in a promotional post for the event. 

Rae's protest comes amid a major shakeup at the cultural center, which has dropped a number of shows from its calendar as Trump took control. 

After naming himself chairman of the Kennedy Center, Trump purged much of the institution's leadership and installed allies to its board. 

This included firing Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter from the position she held for over a decade, replacing her with MAGA insider Richard Grennell - who also assumed the position of Special Presidential Envoy for Special Missions in the White House last month. 

Vice-President JD Vance's wife Usha Vance was also named to the institution's Board of Trustees, alongside White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino. 

Rae's show cancellation follows several others scrubbed from the Kennedy Center calendar, also including a children's musical titled 'Finn', which was described by its creator Michael Kooman as a metaphor for the LGBTQ+ experience. 

Kooman told the Washington Post that he was told the show, which was set to go on a two-year tour funded by the Kennedy Center, would be axed shortly before the first Trump-appointed board meeting. 

'It’s hard to ignore the circumstances in which the cancellation of the tour is happening,' he said.  

Trump previously announced he was taking the helm at the storied cultural organization last week, saying in a Truth Social post he would 'make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN.' 

'I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture,' he wrote. 

'We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP!' 

The shakeup at the Kennedy Center also led several other public figures to step down, with Greys Anatomy showrunner Shonda Rhimes announcing Wednesday that she was resigning as Kennedy Center treasurer. 

The same day, musician Ben Folds and opera singer Renee Fleming said they were stepping down as artistic directors of the Kennedy Center. 

Folds also announced that he was resigning from his position at the National Symphony Orchestra. 

He said in a statement to Instagram: 'Given the developments at the Kennedy Center, effective today I am resigning as artistic advisor to the NSO. Not for me. 

'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.' 

After Trump deposed David Rubenstein as chairman, he issued a statement praising the Kennedy Center while cryptically refusing to mention the president. 

He praised Rutter for 'supporting the Kennedy Center over many years and through a number of difficult times', and thanked staff for making it 'the beacon for the performing arts its founders intended.' 

'President Kennedy would be proud of your selfless work, your long hours, your commitment to excellence, and your dedication to the performing arts,' he said.