Kennedy Center interim president Rick Grenell is facing criticism after reportedly reserving seats for a group of gay conservatives who disrupted a concert by guitarist Yasmin Williams. The performance took place on September 18, but tension escalated when men in MAGA hats arrived and attempted to heckle the musician.
According to Washingtonian, Kennedy Center staff discovered that 50 passes had been reserved for the Log Cabin Republicans, a group that promotes conservative values while claiming to support LGBTQ issues. Several security guards were deployed, and about 20 men in suits, some wearing MAGA hats, filled reserved seats.
“They said they were concerned for my safety,” Williams said, explaining how unusual the atmosphere felt. She later noticed how many attendees appeared to have come not for the music but for political disruption.
In a group newsletter, Log Cabin Republicans president Andrew Manik wrote that Williams was a “vocal opponent of President Trump” and encouraged members to pack the theater with “Patriots.” The email even promised that some guests would receive tickets for free drinks at the Kennedy Center’s bars. Multiple employees later confirmed that Grenell’s office had arranged access for the group and directed them to their seats.
Despite the tense situation, Williams chose to go forward with her set. Taking the stage, she told the audience, “I’ve been grappling with whether to do this show for a while, and I’m here!” as noted on the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage site. She added that her decision was about honoring the people who built the Kennedy Center “into the prestigious place that it was,” while lamenting that the Trump administration’s takeover had damaged its reputation.
Williams did not shy away from naming names. “I don’t support the new board at all. Especially you, Rick Grenell,” she said, sparking both claps and boos. One audience member shouted for her to pay tribute to the recently deceased Charlie Kirk. After about 15 minutes, the disruptive group moved to another part of the venue, and Williams continued her show with support from her fans.
Her clash with Grenell started months earlier. In April, Williams reached out to ask about potential changes following Trump’s cultural overhaul of the Kennedy Center. She described Grenell’s email replies as “absolutely insane.” Grenell accused her of being intolerant toward Republicans and told her not to “play the victim.”
This controversy reflects a pattern under the Trump administration, which has extended its cultural crackdown far beyond the Kennedy Center. Federal agencies such as the Smithsonian and even national parks have faced similar disputes over censorship and the politicization of art, history, and public spaces.
The Kennedy Center, however, denies any organized role in the incident. “This is an absolutely ridiculous claim. There was no coordinated effort by the Kennedy Center. Grenell had no involvement. We did not even know they were coming,” Kennedy Center spokesperson Roma Daravi told The Washington Post. She also stressed that Republicans are welcome as patrons, just like anyone else, and argued that it was unfair to say the group heckled the performer.
