Bias or just one ass?
Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2026 4:00 pm
https://consequence.net/2026/01/kennedy ... wtab-en-usGoing into the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors, President Trump — who hand-picked the honorees and emceed the event — promised the “highest-rated show that they’ve ever done.” However, according to Nielsen data, the December 23rd broadcast ended up drawing only 3.01 million viewers, a 26% year-over-year decline from the 2024 ceremony, which was watched by 4.1 million people.
Roma Daravi, vice president of public relations for the Kennedy Center, is now pushing back against the low ratings narrative, saying in a statement (via The Hollywood Reporter): “Comparing this year’s broadcast ratings to prior years is a classic apples-to-oranges comparison and evidence of far-left bias. The program performed extremely well across key demographics and platforms, despite industry and timing disadvantages, including a Tuesday air date two days before Christmas.”