06 August, 2017
It represents the Arts and Humanities which mean everything to me. The ceremony takes place in Washington D.C., and is traditionally attended by the president and the first lady, hence Lear's refusal to attend the event.
Norman Lear isn't interested in going to a reception hosted by a president who is trying to gut government spending for the arts and humanities. If Trump calls off his attack on government support for the arts and humanities, he added, "maybe that will cause me to change my mind". According to an article published by the New York Times on Thursday, Lear will be boycotting this year's Kennedy Center Honors ceremony, for which he was selected as an honoree along with a few other artists.
Executive producer and creator Norman Lear seen at "The Power of TV: A Conversation with Norman Lear and Netflix original series "One Day at a Time" " ATAS Panel at the Wolf Theater at Saban Media Center on Monday, June 19, 2017, in Los Angeles. "He is [the right's] f- you to all the clowns and the establishment generally because [they believe] the leadership of the country is at an all-time low".
But it is his creation of Archie Bunker, from All in the Family, whom Lear has described as "a lovable bigot", that perhaps still resonates most strongly.
But Lear has said he believes Archie Bunker wouldn't have even voted for Trump. "But Donald Trump is a thorough fool". "I'm not saying I need to be there backslapping and all of that, but this time, this one ain't about him", the rapper-actor said of President Trump.
Estefan, the first Cuban American to receive the honor, has said that she plans to use the occasion as an opportunity to speak with Trump about the achievements made by immigrants.
In a statement following the awards, Streisand, who had been highly critical of Bush over the Iraq war, said she was surprised when she extended her hand to the president and he said, " 'Aw c'mon, gimme a hug and a kiss, ' and then he proceeded to embrace me.
The 40th Kennedy Center Honors will air on CBS on December 26. Of course, I'm accepting the honors.
