Last Updated on June 19, 2025
President Donald J. Trump’s chose Ric Grenell to Lead Kennedy Center, Who Then Fires Floyd Brown Over Gay Marriage Stance
Grenell, an openly gay former U.S. Ambassador to Germany and acting Director of National Intelligence, actively dismissed Floyd Brown, a conservative commentator and new Vice President at the Kennedy Center, due to Brown’s stance on gay marriage.
CNN contacted Grenell and Brown with questions about Brown’s past anti-LGBTQ+ remarks. As a result, Brown claimed on X that Grenell fired him roughly two hours after CNN’s inquiry. He stated,
“I was fired yesterday by @RichardGrenell from the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. One month ago, I was recruited to join the Kennedy Center as a Vice President. My firing came approximately two hours after @CNN sent an email asking me to comment on my past writings and statements about traditional marriage and homosexual influence in the @GOP”
Grenell’s action sparks controversy and highlights challenges for conservative voices in cultural institutions.
Specific Details of Trump’s Appointment of Ric Grenell and the Firing of Floyd Brown
Trump chose Ric Grenell to head the Kennedy Center during a leadership overhaul. Grenell, known for roles in the Trump administration, serves as a special presidential envoy for special missions since 2025. He now oversees the cultural center.
Meanwhile, Floyd Brown, a conservative activist, champions traditional marriage. He joined as Vice President of Development, a key fundraising role, just a month ago.
After CNN’s inquiry, Brown was urged to retract his views. Brown declined, standing by his beliefs.
I asked for an explanation of my dismissal, and I asked to speak to @RichardGrenell–Both of those requests have been ignored. The only explanation is the one given to me at the time of my firing. “Floyd, you must recant your belief in traditional marriage and your past statements on the topic, or you will be fired.” Needless to say, I refused to recant and was shown the door. My beliefs are much more common to Biblical Christianity.”
Brown was fired him immediately. Sources close to Grenell confirm he never knew Brown or helped hire him. This situation reveals targeting of a conservative voice in a public institution.
The Implications of Grenell’s Move to Fire Brown Over His Stance on Gay Marriage
Grenell fired Brown over his stance on gay marriage, and this move carries big implications. Brown’s exit fuels debate among conservatives, particularly in the MAGA-aligned community, and thus highlights limits on religious convictions in public roles.
Brown stressed he never let personal views affect his work. He said,
“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. As a Christian I am called to work with others of different beliefs and worldviews.”
Grenell’s choice prioritizes inclusivity, clashing with Brown’s beliefs. In turn, this dispute shows an ongoing fight to protect conservative voices in cultural spaces.
I was fired yesterday by @RichardGrenell from the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. One month ago, I was recruited to join the Kennedy Center as a Vice President. My firing came approximately two hours after @CNN sent an email asking me to comment on my past…
— Floyd Brown (@floydbrown) May 29, 2025
Conclusion on Trump’s Appointment of Rich Grenell and the Firing of Floyd Brown Over Stance on Gay Marriage
Trump actively named Ric Grenell to run the Kennedy Center. Then, Grenell dismissed Floyd Brown over Brown’s stance on gay marriage. CNN’s inquiry into Brown’s support for traditional marriage triggered this. Brown refused to abandon his beliefs, so Grenell fired him.
Now, this stirs controversy and suggests suppression of conservative voices in cultural institutions.
Grenell’s action favors a narrow view of inclusivity. Meanwhile, Brown’s firing prompts debate for those who value religious freedom. For instance, this event shows a need to guard traditional values and conservative views in public roles.
