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Amber Ruffin to Host PEN America Gala Following White House Correspondents’ Dinner Controversy
NEW YORK CITY – Comedian Amber Ruffin has secured a new engagement for the spring season. The announcement follows recent attention surrounding her planned, but ultimately canceled, appearance at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
PEN America Welcomes Ruffin to Host Annual Gala
PEN America informed The Associated Press on Monday that Ruffin will preside over the free expression organization’s annual gala fundraiser on May 15. This development comes after Ruffin was initially slated to be a featured speaker at the White House Correspondents Association’s annual dinner on April 26. However, the WHCA later rescinded the invitation, stating that they wished to maintain focus on journalistic achievements. Ruffin, known for her sharp critiques of former President Donald Trump, was the speaker in question.
In a statement released Monday, PEN co-interim CEO Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf offered high praise for Ruffin, acknowledging her “brilliant social commentary, her satire and exceptional talent.”
“She is truly representative of the talented creators that are essential on stages and in writers’ rooms, particularly during this era of heightened censorship in the nation. We are both thrilled and privileged to have her involvement,” Shariyf further commented.
Michael Roth Honored with PEN/Benenson Courage Award
PEN also announced that Wesleyan University President Michael Roth will be recognized with the PEN/Benenson Courage Award. The organization stated this award is in recognition of Roth’s “unwavering commitment to defending academic freedom, protecting protest rights, and resisting attempts to silence dissent in higher education.” Roth has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s previous threats regarding research funding for universities such as Columbia and Harvard, citing concerns ranging from the fight against antisemitism to the inclusion of transgender athletes in sports.
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Ruffin’s Stance on Evenhanded Comedy Sparks WHCA Disinvitation
Ruffin, whose background includes writing for NBC’s “Seth Meyers” and who served as host for last year’s PEN gala, indicated that her removal from the WHCA event occurred after she communicated to organizers her intention to refrain from adopting an explicitly “evenhanded” approach in her comedic performance. During a recent appearance on The Daily Beast’s podcast, Ruffin recounted being told she needed to “be equal and be sure that you give it to both sides,” a directive she felt was incompatible with her comedic style.
White House Responds to Ruffin’s Comedy
Taylor Budowich, who previously served as a deputy chief of staff at the White House, has publicly referred to Ruffin as a “second-rate comedian.”