‘Intimidated By a CNN Story’: Trump Official Fired By Ric Grenell Over Anti-Gay Posts Lashes Out

An activist who was appointed to a top role at The Kennedy Center says he was fired just a few weeks into the job, and just hours after CNN approached both him and the Center’s interim president Richard Grenell about a story on his past public comments about homosexuality.

Floyd Brown, founder of popular MAGA news site Western Journal, was appointed just weeks ago to the role of Vice President of Development at The Kennedy Center as part of the restructuring by President Donald Trump, who also appointed himself Chairman in February.

As CNN’s Andrew Kaczynski reported Thursday, the outlet reached out to Brown for comment on “past statements include calling homosexuality ‘a punishment’ upon America and condemning the legality of gay sex” and other controversial comments or conspiracy theories.

“His appointment, which had not been formally announced by the Kennedy Center, had sparked internal concern among some staffers, according to sources,” Kaczynski wrote.

The report adds:

In an email to CNN on Wednesday, Brown said it was an “honor” to work at the Kennedy Center. He defended his remarks as rooted in his Christian faith and said they did not influence his professional conduct. “It was truly not my intention to offend anyone with my comments,” he wrote.

A few hours after that exchange, Brown posted on X to say he’d been fired, and lashed out at CNN and Grenell, who is gay.

“I was fired yesterday by @RichardGrenell from the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. One month ago, I was recruited to join the Kennedy Center as a Vice President,” Brown began. “My firing came approximately two hours after @CNN sent an email asking me to comment on my past writings and statements about traditional marriage and homosexual influence in the @GOP.”

He stated that his beliefs wouldn’t have interfered with his job, saying that he is “at times outspoken on public policy” but “never intended to attack or demean any person in my statements” before saying that CNN had “intimidated” Grenell into firing him.

“The only explanation is the one given to me at the time of my firing. ‘Floyd, you must recant your belief in traditional marriage and your past statements on the topic, or you will be fired,'” he claimed. “Needless to say, I refused to recant and was shown the door. My beliefs are much more common to Biblical Christianity.”

https://x.com/floydbrown/status/1928070879923081514

Here is the full text of the post on X:

I was fired yesterday by @RichardGrenell from the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. One month ago, I was recruited to join the Kennedy Center as a Vice President. My firing came approximately two hours after @CNN sent an email asking me to comment on my past writings and statements about traditional marriage and homosexual influence in the @GOP.

Here is the response I sent to @CNN: “It is an honor to work at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and with the many amazing people who are employed here.

Comments rooted in my personal Christian views, which I have made in the past, have no impact upon my work here at the Kennedy Center nor do they impinge on my interactions with colleagues who do incredible work for the patrons of the Center. As a Christian I am called to work with others of different beliefs and worldviews.

I am honored to work for President of the Kennedy Center, Ambassador @RichardGrenell and Chairman of the Kennedy Center, President @realDonaldTrump. I am united with them in their mission to bring wholesome entertainment showcasing the best of performing arts and music to America.

It was truly not my intention to offend anyone with my comments. I have never intended to attack or demean any person in my statements, and have always shared the mission of Jesus, striving to love others unconditionally.

The amazing beauty of the MAGA movement is we have people of many different beliefs inside our tent. We are all working together in unity to Make America Great Again.”

CNN also contacted @RichardGrenell, who is a professing Christian and is married to a male spouse. As anyone that has followed my x account knows, I am also a professing Christian. I am at times outspoken on public policy, having authored seven books, my latest being CounterPunch: An Unlikely Alliance of Americans Fighting Back for Faith and Freedom. I also frequently speak at churches and Christian conferences.

I had met @RichardGrenell during my time as a political organizer in Arizona.

I asked for an explanation of my dismissal, and I asked to speak to @RichardGrenell –Both of those requests have been ignored.

The only explanation is the one given to me at the time of my firing. “Floyd, you must recant your belief in traditional marriage and your past statements on the topic, or you will be fired.” Needless to say, I refused to recant and was shown the door. My beliefs are much more common to Biblical Christianity.

My only conclusion is @RichardGrenell was intimidated by a @CNN story, which hasn’t been aired or published, so he preemptively fired me for my Christian beliefs on marriage.

CNN added that, “It’s unclear what led to Brown’s hiring, but sources told CNN he reported to Lisa Dale, the Development Department’s senior vice president. Brown, like Dale, was an advisor to former Arizona Republican candidate Kari Lake.”