Kennedy Center v. Redd: How a Canceled Jazz Concert Became a Free Speech Fight

When can a performer’s public criticism become a breach of contract? In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin Shareholders Scott Hervey and Richard D. Buckley, Jr. break down Kennedy Center v. Redd, a dispute involving musician Charles Redd, a canceled performance, a morals clause, and D.C.’s Anti-SLAPP Act. In this episode, they cover: How D.C.’s Anti-SLAPP Act applied to Redd’s public statements Why the court dismissed the Kennedy Center’s breach of contract claims What the decision means for venues, studios, and producers relying on morals clauses in performer agreements Tune in for a clear look at what happens when contractual morals clauses collide with legal protections for public speech.