Whitney Cummings Says Netflix Cut Trump Joke From Mark Twain Special as Kennedy Center Cites Contract Rights
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 21
Whitney Cummings Says Netflix Cut Trump Joke From Mark Twain Special as Kennedy Center Cites Contract Rights
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 21
Summary
Whitney Cummings said her "Donald Trump ... got caught in sex traffic" joke was removed from Netflix's Mark Twain Prize special honoring Bill Maher, even after it was performed and leaked from the live event.
Netflix said it prefers not to cut comics' material but that the Trump-controlled Kennedy Center had the contractual right to demand edits; Cummings said staff feared jobs could be at risk and warned Trump might sue.
The Kennedy Center disputed her account, saying her claims had "no validity," no one would be fired over a joke, and the cut was part of normal time-trimming for broadcast, as in past specials.
Cummings said she had already dropped another Trump joke in rehearsal and argued the Mark Twain Prize should be a place where comedians can criticize elected officials without censorship.
The Maher tribute began streaming Tuesday, and the dispute adds to scrutiny of artistic independence at the Kennedy Center since Trump became board chair.