No Joke: Comedian Booted From WHCA Dinner

The White House Correspondents Association revealed Saturday that its board had unanimously decided to eliminate the customary comedic act from this year’s dinner.

WHCA president Eugene Daniels addressed the membership in a letter, saying, “At this pivotal time for journalism, I want to shift the spotlight away from divisive politics and fully onto recognizing our peers’ exceptional achievements, while also supporting scholarships and mentorship for future journalists.”

Amber Ruffin

This comes just under two months after Daniels had named Amber Ruffin as the featured entertainer for the event. At the time, he praised her, writing, “Amber’s distinctive skills perfectly suit the current political and cultural moment. Her voice will align seamlessly with the dinner’s tradition of celebrating press freedom while playfully skewering the most influential figures across the political spectrum and the reporters who cover them.”

Ruffin sparked backlash earlier in thr week on The Daily Beast Podcast, where she recounted the WHCA’s guidance: “They were like, ‘you need to be fair and hit both sides,’ and I was like, ‘there’s no way I’m doing that.’” She added defiantly, “Under no circumstances.”

CNN’s Brian Stelter notes that the move to scrap the comedy portion was “already in progress” before Ruffin’s remarks surfaced.

Ruffin is a familiar face to late-night audiences, having spent years as a writer and performer on Late Night with Seth Meyers. She also previously hosted her own Peacock series and currently serves as a team captain on CNN’s Have I Got News For You.

Donald Trump’s relationship with the White House Correspondents’ Dinner—and the WHCA itself—has long been a rocky one, marked by tension and mutual disdain.