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PEOPLE & ARTS Tuesday 22 augusT 2017
Trump to skip Kennedy Center Honors awards program

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE It will be the fourth time in
Associated Press the awards’ 40-year history
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (AP) — that a president will miss
Acknowledging that he out on the ceremony.
has become a “political Trump long has had a con-
distraction,” President Don- tentious relationship with
ald Trump has decided to the arts world and some
skip the festivities surround- of those being recognized
ing the annual Kennedy for lifetime achievement
Center Honors arts awards in their fields had already
later this year, the White made clear they would
House announced Satur- boycott a White House re-
day amid the continuing ception presided over by
fallout over Trump’s stance Trump.
on last weekend’s white su- His decision capped a
premacist demonstration in week in which he was put
Charlottesville, Virginia. on the defensive over his
The Kennedy Center said it Charlottesville remarks.
respected Trump’s decision Elected and former elect-
and the show will go on. ed officials in both parties
Trump and first lady Melania urged Trump to more force-
Trump reached their deci- fully denounce the neo-
sion Friday, a White House Nazis and white suprema-
official said, the same day cists who marched through In this July 7, 2017 photo, President Donald Trump, left, and first lady Melania Trump smile prior to
that the entire membership Charlottesville, while oth- a concert on the first day of the G-20 summit in Hamburg, northern Germany.
of the President’s Commit- ers openly questioned his Associated Press
tee on the Arts and the competence and moral to celebrate without any the National Endowment age of a Cuban immigrant
Humanities resigned in pro- leadership. political distraction,” White for the Humanities. like herself being honored is
test over Trump’s remarks Corporate titans whom House press secretary Sar- Dancer Carmen de Laval- important when Latino im-
about Charlottesville. Trump enjoyed schmooz- ah Huckabee Sanders said lade said on her website migrants in particular have
The official was not autho- ing with at the White House in a statement. Sanders Thursday that she was hon- “taken a beating in the re-
rized to publicly discuss in- fled advisory boards they said the Trumps offer their ored to be recognized, but cent past.” Estefan once
ternal deliberations and had agreed to serve on, “sincerest congratulations would not go to the White hosted a Democratic fund-
insisted on anonymity to while uniformed leaders and well wishes to all of House. raiser attended by Presi-
comment. of the armed services de- this year’s award recipients “In light of the socially di- dent Barack Obama. She
Trump has blamed “both nounced racism and ha- for their many accomplish- visive and morally caustic said she and her husband,
sides” for the Aug. 12 vio- tred without naming their ments.” narrative that our existing Emilio, are not affiliated
lence that left an anti-rac- commander in chief. Television writer and pro- leadership is choosing to with a political party.
ism activist dead. One of Trump’s evangeli- ducer Norman Lear, engage in, and in keep- Representatives for the re-
Presidents traditionally host cal advisers also stepped among the five honorees ing with the principles that maining honorees — hip-
a light-hearted and often- down, and the number announced earlier this I and so many others have hop artist LL Cool J, who
times humorous gathering of major charities that month, had questioned fought for, I will be declin- had not yet said whether
for the honorees at the are canceling fundraisers whether Trump would want ing the invitation to attend he would show up at the
White House before the planned for Trump’s prop- to attend the gala “given the reception at the White White House, and singer Li-
awards ceremony at the erty in Palm Beach, Florida, his indifference or worse House,” she said. onel Richie, who described
performing arts center. has been rising. regarding the arts and hu- Singer Gloria Estefan had himself as a maybe — did
Trump will not hold that re- “The president and first lady manities.” Trump has rec- said she would set her per- not respond to requests for
ception this year, and he have decided not to par- ommended eliminating sonal politics aside to ac- comment.
and the first lady will not at- ticipate in this year’s activi- funding for the National En- cept the honor, now in its Some celebrities supported
tend the gala. ties to allow the honorees dowment for the Arts and 40th year. She said the im- Trump. “Wise solution.q

A reptilian tail? A solar eclipse.

Taylor Swift teases fans

By The Associated Press Monday. As for the video with all the snake emojis
Who can eclipse an clip that appears to be a that took front and center
eclipse? Why, Taylor Swift. twitchy reptilian tail, well, last year on Swift’s social
Just days after going dark we’re not sure how that streams, including when
on social media, the pop might play into Swift’s an- anti-Swifties used them in
star put out another clue ticipated sixth studio album Instagram comments af-
Monday leading to a possi- that all of her social media ter Kim Kardashian West
ble song drop on the same shenanigans seem to be released audio record-
day as the big solar eclipse. leading up to, possibly in ings she said proved Swift
And if the lyric-sharing site October to coincide with gave West’s hubby, Kanye In this Feb. 4, 2017 file photo, Taylor Swift performs at the DIREC-
Genius was to be believed, the anniversary of the re- West, the go ahead for a TV NOW Super Saturday Night Concert in Houston, Texas.
the tune is titled “Time- lease of her “1989.” Swift reference in the song Associated Press
less.” The title was teased The tale may or may not “Famous.” Swift wiped her gram and website on Fri- of the release of her “Shake
there but taken down later have something to do Facebook, Twitter, Insta- day, the third anniversary It Off” single.q