The Kennedy Center Honors faced a significant drop in ratings this year, as reported by the Washington Post. The decline in viewership came shortly after former President Donald Trump became involved with the prestigious event.
According to a Nielsen report obtained by CBS, this year’s Kennedy Center Honors, which were hosted by Trump, garnered an average of 3.01 million viewers. This marked a 25% decrease from the previous year, where the show attracted 4.1 million viewers. The numbers were even higher at 4.5 million viewers the year before that, showcasing a downward trend in viewership.
Despite the low ratings, the Kennedy Center has not yet provided a response to inquiries from Variety regarding the situation. Trump made history as the first sitting president to host the Kennedy Center Honors, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to society. The honorees for this year included George Strait, Sylvester Stallone, KISS, Michael Crawford, and Gloria Gaynor.
Leading up to the event, Trump expressed confidence in its success, predicting that it would be the highest-rated show in the history of the Kennedy Center Honors. However, the reality did not align with his expectations, as the ratings fell short of projections.
In a controversial move, Trump announced plans to rename the Kennedy Center to “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts” during his second term. This decision was met with backlash, resulting in some scheduled performances being canceled in protest of the name change.
The future of the Kennedy Center Honors remains uncertain as it navigates through the challenges posed by declining viewership and political controversies. Despite the setbacks, the event continues to honor individuals who have made lasting contributions to the arts and culture landscape.
