White House Correspondents’ Association cancels plans to have a comedian headline annual dinner | CNN Business
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The White House Correspondents’ Association is reversing course and canceling its plans to have comedian Amber Ruffin headline this year’s annual fundraising dinner in Washington, DC.

Summary

The White House Correspondents’ Association canceled comedian Amber Ruffin’s headlining appearance at its annual fundraising dinner.

The decision follows concerns over Ruffin’s anti-Trump comments and growing tensions with the Trump White House, which has restricted press access and pool assignments.

The association’s board voted unanimously for the change, seeking to avoid political division.

This shift mirrors its 2019 approach, when historian Ron Chernow spoke instead of a comedian amid similar Trump-era scrutiny.

  • PurpleSkull@lemm.eeEnglish
    251·
    3 days ago

    I support that decision. What kind of jokes could a comedian make about all of this? About the resurgence of an autocratic state on the ruins of one of the first modern democracies?

    Maybe a conservative, MAGA comedian could do it. But those don’t exist. Ask yourself why.

    • 3xBork@lemmy.world
      101·
      3 days ago

      They exist. They’re just not recognized as comedians by those not in the cult because normal people don’t see kicking down as humor.

        • Otter@lemm.eeEnglish
          3·
          3 days ago

          Sure, just giving you a MAGA conservative comedian. He has a massive and loyal fan base regardless of either of our opinions on him.

          • cyphear@lemm.eeEnglish
            3·
            3 days ago

            If only George Carlin were still around. I bet he’d have a few words to say about all of this…

            • Otter@lemm.eeEnglish
              2·
              3 days ago

              Bill Burr is probably the closest we’ve got today but his approach isn’t as sophisticated as Carlin’s was.

              • cyphear@lemm.eeEnglish
                2·
                2 days ago

                The best thing about Carlin was that it didn’t matter which party it was, he called them all out on their bullshit. Another one that was a good stand up comedian that we lost too early was Robin Williams. I remember him doing a movie where he played the president. It had a very “The Great Dictator” vibe to it.