Comedian Amber Ruffin pulled from White House Correspondents’ Dinner
Amber Ruffin will no longer be performing at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner next month, announced the president of the White House Correspondents Association on Saturday.
In an email to members, WHCA President Eugene Daniels explained that the board had unanimously decided to forgo a comedic performance this year. The decision comes after Ruffin, known for her work on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” was initially announced as the featured entertainment for the April 26 event.
Daniels stated in his email, “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.”
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While Daniels did not provide specific details on the decision, Ruffin shared on the Daily Beast podcast that she was advised by the WHCA to maintain neutrality and cater to both sides, a request she was unwilling to comply with.
Ruffin is currently a part of the CNN series “Have I Got News For You” and is known for her critical commentary on President Trump.
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner typically features a comedian performance and a roast from the sitting president, with Mr. Trump breaking tradition and skipping the event during his first term.
During a White House briefing earlier this year, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt hinted at the possibility of Mr. Trump attending this year’s dinner, despite the change in entertainment plans.
“It’s certainly an interesting choice,” Leavitt commented on Ruffin’s selection. “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. I’ll talk to the boss about it and see what we decide.”
This is not the first time the WHCA has canceled a comedian performance. Following Michelle Wolf’s controversial 2018 appearance, the group opted for a speech from historian Ron Chernow in 2019 instead of a comedic act.
The event was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic but returned in 2022, with then-President Joe Biden participating. The 2024 dinner, featuring comedian Colin Jost, faced protests amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.
