A judge in Washington has ruled that the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts must compensate jazz artist Chuck Redd with over $250,000 in legal fees. This decision follows the dismissal of the center’s lawsuit against Redd for breaching a contract by Judge Tanya Jones Bosier of the District of Columbia Superior Court.

In 2025, Redd, a renowned American drummer and vibraphonist, whose legal name is Charles, withdrew from his long-standing role as the host of the center’s annual Christmas Eve concert in response to the controversial addition of Donald Trump’s name to the building’s facade. Redd’s attorney, Lisa J. Banks, stated to CBC News that it is unjust for individuals to face politically motivated lawsuits, such as the one initiated by the Trump Administration.

For many years, Redd had been hosting and performing at the center’s Christmas Eve concerts. However, he withdrew from the event last year shortly before the scheduled performance following the installation of Trump’s name on the building’s exterior.

After Redd’s withdrawal, the center threatened legal action against him, claiming that his decision was intolerant and costly to the nonprofit institution. The center sought $1 million in damages, but the lawsuit was eventually dismissed by the Washington judge due to the lack of a valid breach of contract claim.

Additionally, a federal judge ruled in May that Trump’s name had been unlawfully added to the Kennedy Center. This ruling stemmed from a conflict that arose when Trump assumed control of the center, leading to the dismissal of long-time chair David Rubinstein.

Since these changes, several prominent figures in the arts and culture sphere have distanced themselves from the center or canceled appearances, including Canadian author Louise Penny, Shonda Rimes, and Issa Rae. The Kennedy Center confirmed in June that the letters spelling out Trump’s name have been removed from the facade, leaving only the words “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.”

The Kennedy Center plans to appeal the judge’s decision while Redd’s lawyers view the ruling as appropriate. They criticized the center for attempting to stifle opposition to the unauthorized name change through a baseless lawsuit against Chuck Redd. The Kennedy Center, known for hosting over 2,000 events annually and being the official home of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera, remains at the center of this legal and cultural controversy.