Comedian Amber Ruffin was all set to show off her comedy chops at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner taking place at The Washington Hilton on April 26 in Washington, D.C. In a shocking announcement from the White House Correspondents’ Association, Amber Ruffin will no longer be performing at the gala, which usually features a comedian to entertain the hundreds of guests. The sudden change comes from Ruffin’s criticism of the Trump administration, but is that enough to be removed from her slated performance?
Amber Ruffin: You’re Fired
Back in February, the White House Correspondents’ Association announced that Ruffin would be featured at this year’s dinner. Eugene Daniels, president of the White House Correspondents’s Association said that Ruffin’s “unique talents are the ideal fit for this current political and cultural climate,” and “her perspective will fit right in with the dinner’s tradition of honoring the freedom of the press while roasting the most powerful people on all sides of the aisle and the journalists who cover them.”
In a recent announcement, Daniel said that it was unanimously decided that the White House Correspondents’ Association would no longer feature a comedian, and Amber Ruffin will no longer be performing.
According to USA Today, Daniels said, “At this consequential moment for journalism, I want to ensure the focus is not on the politics of division but entirely on awarding our colleagues for their outstanding work and providing scholarship and mentorship to the next generation of journalists.”
What’s The Reasoning?
When he announced the new changes to the dinner, Daniel did not elaborate further as to why Ruffin would no longer be performing. With no actual explanation offered, what exactly is the reasoning behind the change?
According to CBS News, Amber Ruffin explained on the Daily Beast podcast that she was told by the White House Correspondents’ Association told her that “you need to be equal, and make sure that you give it to both sides and blah, blah, blah. And I was like, ‘there’s no way I’m going to be freaking doing that, dude, under no circumstances.’”
It’s no secret that Ruffin is not a fan of President Donald Trump and his administration. Currently, she features on the CNN series Have I Got News For You, has been a writer, and even performed on Late Night with Seth Meyers, amongst other gigs over the years. She’s not afraid to speak her mind as she has been openly critical of the Trump administration and has made jokes and poked fun at the president and his administration.
While there’s no official reason for Ruffin to be “fired” from her White House Correspondents’ Dinner performance, many have been jumping to their own conclusions. Unfortunately for those in attendance this year, there won’t be a replacement for Ruffin, so don’t expect any comedic relief.
