Tom Cruise was reportedly invited to receive a Kennedy Center Honor in a ceremony set to be hosted by President Donald Trump later this year, but he turned down the invitation, according to several current and former Kennedy Center employees.
The star of the “Mission: Impossible” franchise declined to accept the honor — widely considered one of the nation’s highest awards in artistic achievement — citing “scheduling conflicts,” the sources told The Washington Post on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the event.
A spokesperson for the actor did not immediately return a request for comment Friday morning.
On Wednesday, Trump announced the five honorees of the 48th Kennedy Center Honors, whom the White House called “heroes of arts and culture [who] will be celebrated at the annual Kennedy Center Honors Gala in December.”
They include the glam rock band KISS; Golden Globe-winning actor Sylvester Stallone; country music star George Strait; Tony-winning actor Michael Crawford; and Grammy-winning disco diva — and bonafide gay icon — Gloria Gaynor.
On Thursday, “The View” co-host Ana Navarro took to social media to urge the “I Will Survive” singer to turn down the honor.
“I wish she wouldn’t accept an award from the hands of a man who has attacked the rights and history of women, people of color and LGBTQ,” she wrote on Instagram. “The gay community in particular, helped turn her signature song into an anthem.”
The five honorees — all of whom have had an impact “on the rich tapestry of American life and culture through the performing arts” — make up the first class of honorees since Trump was elected chairman of the prestigious cultural center earlier this year.
Before revealing their names during a press conference at the site, the former “Celebrity Apprentice” host said he always wanted to receive the award, but “was never able to get one.”
Trump, who said he was “very involved” in choosing this year’s honorees, said he turned down some of the “wokesters” that didn’t meet with his approval
With News Wire Services
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