CNN
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Conan O’Brien is open about his decision to honor his commitment to receiving the Mark Twain Award for American Humor at the Kennedy Center for the Arts.
Several performers cancelled performances at famous and historically bipartisan arts institutions after President Donald Trump criticized the venue where he was now chairman and set up political loyalists in top leadership positions.
On Friday’s episode of his “Conan O’Brien Needs Friends” podcast, O’Brien said he wanted to talk about the “significant moments” of his career.
The award was given to him by the “old administration,” O’Brien said, and he said he “want to respect their decision.”
“Obviously there have been some controversial things at the Kennedy Center over the past few months in the new administration,” he added.
“I was asked, ‘Should I go? Please don’t go?'” he said. “And I felt it was important to show up.”
The comedian described the night positively.
“It was really lovely because the young people who had worked at the Kennedy Center for years were happy that we were here,” he said. “They don’t know what their future is.”
O’Brien was selected by the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts to receive the 26th Mark Twain Award for American Humor in January.
Named to honor one of the world’s greatest humorists, the award was awarded at a gala performance at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on March 23rd, featuring the biggest names of comedy, including David Letterman, Sarah Silverman and John Mulany, who celebrated O’Brien.
The event was filmed for later streaming on Netflix. The show’s date has not been announced yet.
