The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., has reportedly terminated a contractor after he recorded a 35-minute nude rant against President Donald Trump.
Tavish Forsyth, 32, who worked as an associate artistic lead at the Washington National Opera’s Opera Institute and identified as “queer,” shared the video to express his frustrations over recent policies, including a ban on drag performances.
During the video, Forsyth voiced his anger, declaring, “F*** Donald Trump and the Kennedy Center,” and criticized the Trump administration for allegedly targeting marginalized communities, including poor people, queer individuals, and immigrants.
He acknowledged that his statements might label him as radical, but maintained that he would not shy away from expressing his beliefs.
Roma Daravi, the Kennedy Center’s vice president of public relations, described the video as “extremely disturbing,” emphasizing that it does not align with the values of the institution.
She highlighted concerns about Forsyth’s role, pointing out that he was contracted to work with minors, which raised questions about the ideology he may have exposed them to. Consequently, his contract was terminated.
Forsyth responded to his firing by expressing that the Kennedy Center was one of the best jobs he had ever held, praising the supportive environment of his team.
He dismissed the notion that he was corrupting youth, calling it a “laughably false” claim rooted in longstanding discrimination against LGBTQ+ educators.
This incident follows Trump’s recent actions to reshape the Kennedy Center’s board, highlighting his stance against drag shows targeting youth, which he vowed to stop.
As the situation unfolds, it brings to light the complexities of artistic expression and the implications of political discourse within arts organizations.
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