Following an incident where Vice President JD Vance was booed at a National Symphony Orchestra concert, Kennedy Center interim President Richard Grenell expressed a surprising support for diversity and inclusion. Despite his past criticisms of progressive policies, Grenell's email to staff reflected an acknowledgment of the crowd's reaction and outlined a commitment to ensure the Kennedy Center welcomes everyone. His statements come amidst tensions regarding the contrasting views on inclusion fostered by the previous administration, signaling a significant shift in the MAGA narrative around these social issues.
As the premier arts organization in the United States of America, we must work to make the Kennedy Center a place where everyone is welcomed. We clearly have work to do.
I received several messages from Kennedy Center staffers sharing their embarrassment over more than a few Symphony patrons loudly booing the Vice President and his wife last night.
I take diversity and inclusion very seriously... I love that we are Christian, Muslim, Jewish, agnostic, gay, straight, Black, white, Hispanic, and absolutely different.
Grenell's unexpected pivot to champion the diversity and inclusion efforts marked a striking contrast to the previous administration's stance on these issues.
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