A Washington, DC, judge has ordered the Kennedy Center to pay a jazz artist’s legal fees after the performing arts institution sued him for canceling his performance over the addition of President Donald Trump’s name to the venue.
On Monday, Judge Tanya M. Jones Bosier awarded performer Chuck Redd — who canceled his Christmas Eve show at the center — more than $250,000 and gave the Kennedy Center 45 days to make the payment.
Lisa Banks, one of Redd’s attorneys, told CNN in a statement, “The Trump-controlled Kennedy Center tried to silence opposition to its illegal name change by filing a meritless lawsuit against jazz musician Chuck Redd. The court rightly dismissed that breach of contract lawsuit, finding there was no contract and no damages, and was brought against Mr. Redd based on his protected opposition.”
A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center said the institution intends to appeal the decision.
The Kennedy Center sued Redd in March, arguing that he breached his contract when he canceled his performance less than a week before the show in protest of Trump’s handpicked board voting to rename the building to include the president’s name.
