Richie considering boycotting Kennedy Honors

THE Kennedy Center Honors have always been about prestige, not politics – but this year, as the newest batch of honourees ponder the first such celebration to be held under the Trump administration, several are finding it difficult to set politics aside.

During an appearance on the Today show on Tuesday, singer-songwriter Lionel Richie became the latest honouree to voice uncertainty about participating: “I’m gonna play it by ear,” he told hosts Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie.

Kotb asked about his plans after noting this year’s celebration is not without controversy: Television writer/producer and fellow honouree Norman Lear had said he would boycott a White House reception hosted by Donald and Melania Trump, while Cuban American singer Gloria Estefan said she would attend – because she hoped to have a chat with Trump about the value of immigrants in American culture.

“I’m not really happy with what’s going on with the controversies. They’re weekly, daily, hourly.”

But Richie noted wryly that plenty could change before the event in December: “We may be in a whole other world by that time.”

Lear told The New York Times earlier this month he plans to skip the White House reception because he disapproves of Trump.

“This is a presidency that has chosen to neglect the arts and humanities – deliberately defund them – and that doesn’t rest pleasantly with me.”

This year’s recipients include the first-ever rapper, LL Cool J, and dancer-choreographer Carmen de Lavallade. – Washington Post