Lionel Richie torn about attending Kennedy Center honors at the WH

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On Tuesday, Lionel Richie admitted to the Today Show that he was considering not going to the Kennedy Center honors reception at the White House in December.

The annual John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts gala at the end of the year honors artists and others who have contributes to American culture, but while Richie is one of this year’s honorees, he simply doesn’t think he wants to go to the White House.

“I’m going to just play it by ear,” he explained. “I must tell you, I’m not really happy as to what’s going on right now with the controversies. They’re weekly, daily, hourly. But I think I’m just gonna wait it out for a minute, see where it’s going to be by that time.”

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“This is going to be in December,” Richie added. “We may be in a whole other world by that time. But I’m gonna wait it out.”

He is not the first honoree to express reservations, either. Norman Lear also tweeted that he would accept the award but that he would not attend the reception with President Donald Trump.

“I totally understand Norman’s point of view, and I understand where we are as a country right now is going backwards, but all we can do is sit here and hold our breath for a minute.” Richie said.