The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor honoring Bill Maher will air on Netflix on July 21, the Kennedy Center announced Monday.
Newly announced guests for the programming include Louis C.K., Whitney Cummings, Woody Harrelson, Arianna Huffington, Jay Leno, John Mellencamp and Stephen A. Smith. The gala performance itself is scheduled to take place June 28 in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.
“We are delighted to once again partner with Netflix to bring the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor — the nation’s most prestigious comedy honor — to audiences everywhere,” said Roma Daravi, vice president of public relations at the Kennedy Center. “Comedy fans will have a front-row seat to an evening of comedic candor, not to be missed.”
The event has already attracted controversy. The Kennedy Center announced Maher as the recipient after members of Trump’s administration said a report in The Atlantic, stating that Maher would be the recipient, was “fake news.”
“This is fake news. Bill Maher will NOT be getting this award,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at the time.
