Ric Grenell Allegedly Axes Anti-Marriage-Equality Kennedy Center Official

A Kennedy Center official reportedly lost his post at the institution mere hours after being quizzed by CNN on his anti-marriage-equality stance.

"Floyd Brown, a far-right political activist with a history of anti-gay rhetoric and promoting conspiracy theories about former President Barack Obama, said he was fired from a senior leadership role he briefly held at the Kennedy Center," CNN reported, adding that the dismissal came "just hours after CNN reached out with questions about his past statements."

The New York Times detailed that Brown had taken to X (formerly Twitter) to say "that he was fired on Wednesday [May 28] by Richard Grenell, whom President Trump appointed as the interim leader of the center in February after he began imposing his grip on it."

"Mr. Brown said his dismissal happened about two hours after CNN contacted him for comment on his past statements on homosexuality and marriage."

Brown shared on the platform what he said had been his "response to CNN..."

"Comments rooted in my personal Christian views, which I have made in the past, have no impact upon my work here at the Kennedy Center nor do they impinge on my interactions with colleagues who do incredible work for the patrons of the Center," Brown said in his claimed answer to CNN. "As a Christian I am called to work with others of different beliefs and worldviews."

The statement Brown said he shared with CNN went on to add, "It was truly not my intention to offend anyone with my comments. I have never intended to attack or demean any person in my statements, and have always shared the mission of Jesus, striving to love others unconditionally."

That statement contrasted sharply with the past comments that CNN was asking about.

"Brown's past statements include calling homosexuality 'a punishment' upon America and condemning the legality of gay sex," CNN noted. "He has also falsely claimed that Obama is Muslim and promoted conspiracy theories about his birth documents."

The news outlet also related how Brown's "appointment, which had not been formally announced by the Kennedy Center, had sparked internal concern among some staffers, according to sources."

The New York Times pointed out that "The Kennedy Center did not announce the appointment of Mr. Brown, a vocal Trump supporter," and that Brown himself had "said in a LinkedIn post this month that he had started working at the center as vice president of development."

"Mr. Brown said Thursday [May 29] that his requests for an explanation for his dismissal and to speak with Mr. Grenell, who during the president's first term was recognized as America's first gay cabinet member, have been ignored," the Times went on to add.

"The only explanation is the one given to me at the time of my firing," Brown's tweet claimed.

"Floyd, you must recant your belief in traditional marriage and your past statements on the topic, or you will be fired" the tweet claimed he was told.

"Needless to say, I refused to recant and was shown the door," Brown added, before accusing Grenell of having been "intimidated" by the prospect of CNN's coverage of his past anti-marriage and ant-LGBTQ+ statements. Brown then charged that Grenell had "preemptively fired me for my Christian beliefs on marriage."

"Brown's statement did not address his past comments on Obama," CNN noted. "Grenell did not respond to a request for comment from CNN. A source familiar with the Kennedy Center confirmed to CNN that Brown is no longer there and said that Grenell had not met with Brown, did not know him, and was not involved in his hiring."

Donald Trump effectively took control of The Kennedy Center earlier this year, purging its board and having himself installed as the board's chair. He also claimed on social media that the center had "featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth" – an early indicator of the anti-LGBTQ+ purge of the institution's once-inclusive slate of programming.

Since the takeover, The Kennedy Center has reportedly banned out playwright Harvey Fierstein, canceled a performance by the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington and scheduled an appearance by the so-called "J6 Prison Choir" (which is comprised of rioters convicted for their actions at the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021), and scrapped a touring production of the children's musical "Finn," which is seen by some as an allegory addressing the acceptance of transgender people.

The Kennedy Center had also scheduled events to coincide with World Pride, taking place this year in Washington, D.C., but that calendar of events was also purged.

Artists, in turn, have pulled back from the Center, including the cancellation of a planned run of "Hamilton" that had been scheduled for next year.