In a surprising turn of events, the performance by Amber Ruffin at the upcoming White House Correspondents' Dinner has been officially canceled. This announcement was made by the president of the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA), Eugene Daniels, in an email sent to members on Saturday. Daniels, who recently transitioned from a reporter role at Politico to a senior Washington correspondent position at MSNBC, stated that the WHCA board had reached a unanimous decision to forgo a comedic performance this year.
Amber Ruffin, a well-known figure in comedy and television, was previously announced as the featured entertainment for the dinner scheduled for April 26. Her impressive credentials include being an Emmy-nominated writer and performer on Late Night with Seth Meyers and her contributions to A Black Lady Sketch Show. The decision to cancel her performance comes at a time when the focus on journalism is particularly significant.
In his email, Daniels emphasized the importance of directing attention away from political divisions and towards recognizing journalists for their exceptional work. He mentioned the necessity of providing scholarship and mentorship opportunities for emerging journalists. However, he did not provide further details regarding the reasoning behind the cancellation of Ruffin's performance.
In a recent appearance on the Daily Beast podcast, Amber Ruffin shared her perspective on the WHCA's decision. She revealed that she was informed by the association that they needed to maintain a sense of balance, suggesting that they should cater to both sides of the political spectrum. Ruffin expressed her strong disagreement with this sentiment, stating, "There's no way I'm going to be freaking doing that, dude, under no circumstances."
The White House Correspondents' Dinner is an annual event where media professionals mingle with federal officials and celebrities in a relaxed atmosphere. Traditionally, the gala features a comedic performance and a lighthearted roast from the sitting president. Notably, former President Donald Trump did not attend the event during his first term, due to his contentious relationship with the media.
During a White House briefing on February 5, press secretary Karoline Leavitt did not dismiss the possibility of former President Trump attending the upcoming dinner. She referred to Ruffin's selection as an "interesting choice" and mentioned that both she and the president had the invitation on their desks. Leavitt stated, "I haven't talked to the president about it. When he makes his decision, I will let you all know, but definitely an interesting choice of the comedian."
This isn't the first instance of the WHCA canceling a comedian's performance. Following the controversial set by Michelle Wolf in 2018, the association opted not to feature a comedian the subsequent year, instead inviting historian Ron Chernow to speak in 2019. The dinner was also canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the event returning in 2022, alongside participation from then-President Joe Biden.
As the White House Correspondents' Dinner approaches, the cancellation of Amber Ruffin's performance raises questions about the future direction of this significant event in American journalism.
