Katie Couric Sparks Feud With Trump-Run Kennedy Center: It’s ‘A Disgrace’
Katie Couric has found herself in the middle of some social media drama with the Kennedy Center.
It all started when the Washington, D.C., performing arts center shared an Instagram pic about one of its recent events on Saturday, August 23. “Our Kennedy Center family had a wonderful time at Opera In The Outfield tonight,” the post’s caption read. “We’re so thankful to everyone who brought their families to the ballpark and experienced it too.”
Couric hopped in the comments of the post, taking a dig at the venue’s new leadership. (President Donald Trump took over as chairman of the Kennedy Center’s Board of Trustees in February and has expressed his desire to rename the center after himself.)
“This is so sad. I grew up going to the Kennedy Center which was about 20 minutes from our house in Arlington,” Couric commented. “What they’ve done to it is a disgrace. 😢.”
Couric’s comment garnered several replies, including one from Kennedy Center President Ambassador Richard Grenell. He wrote, “@katiecouric we didn’t cancel a single show. Your team couldn’t perform for Republicans. They cancelled. It is this exact intolerance that we fight against. Everyone is welcome to the Kennedy Center….even you!”
In response to Couric’s criticism, the Kennedy Center’s Instagram shared a link to a Daily Mail story about her comment. “The Kennedy Center is for EVERYONE. That includes Mrs. Couric,” the center captioned a Sunday, August 25 Instagram post. “‘Katie Couric starts bizarre fight with opera after DC’s Kennedy Center was taken over by MAGA’ (Link In Bio).”
Shannon Finney/Getty Images
Couric clapped back in the follow-up post’s comments, writing, “This is hilarious. And it’s Ms. Couric to you.” In a second comment, she added, “I commented on a post that the Kennedy Center was always so special to me growing up in Arlington and that what they’ve done with it is a disgrace. I guess this is their clever retort. 🥴.”
Several Instagram users backed Couric in comments of their own. “Remove this post please. It’s juvenile and beneath the dignity of the institution,” one person posted, while another wrote, “What timeline are we on where the Kennedy Center is quoting the Daily Mail.”
“Who’s managing the Kennedy Centers socials now? Yikes. This post is tacky and absolute garbage,” someone else commented. A different user praised Couric, writing, “We love you, @katiecouric! 👏Thank you for being an *actual* supporter of the arts. #SaveKennedyCenter.”
Trump has made several changes to the Kennedy Center since taking it over in February, including firing several employees and announcing plans for renovations, per NBC News. Earlier this month, the Kennedy Center also fired its dance programming team, per NPR.
During an August 13 press conference, Trump stated that he was “very involved” in selecting this year’s Kennedy Center honorees, per NPR, which include George Strait, Michael Crawford, Gloria Gaynor, Sylvester Stallone, and members of the Band KISS (Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, and Ace Frehley).
At the press conference, Trump shared that he said no to “a couple of wokesters” proposed by the Kennedy Center board, but clarified that honorees weren’t selected based on their political views. (Trump is also set to host this year’s Kennedy Center Honors ceremony.)
The Kennedy Center Honors, Sunday, December 7, CBS
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