Although the show has been canceled amid Donald Trump‘s takeover of The Kennedy Center, Finn fans are keeping the musical alive.
Following news of the cancelation, the team behind the acclaimed children’s show took to Instagram to thank fans for their support and continue spreading the show’s message of “love and acceptance.”
“Whoa! We have been absolutely blown away by the incredible outpouring of love and support that we’ve received over the course of the last twenty four hours,” they captioned the post. “This community is amazing. I can’t tell you how much we appreciate you all!
“Re-sharing this song [‘Sparkle and Shine’] (sung by the brilliant @zach_piser) for anyone who is unfamiliar with FINN. It’s a story of love and acceptance that for some infuriating reason is controversial right now.
“Despite the cancellation of our tour, we are determined to get this message out there to everyone who needs to hear it. Take a listen to the song on Spotify, Apple Music, or anywhere music is streamed. Thank you from the bottom of our hears, and stay tuned for ways that you can help!” the statement concluded.
The cancelation of the musical, which is about a young shark who “wants to let out his inner fish,” was announced on the show’s Instagram page. “We didn’t ask for this joy bomb of a show to be a part of the resistance, but here we are,” they wrote.
“At its heart it has a universal message of love and acceptance,” the statement continued. “The fact that that extends to sparkly boys seems to be controversial.”
In a statement to Deadline, a Kennedy Center spokesperson called the move “a purely financial decision,” following Trump’s appointment as the Center’s new chairman after he ousted half the organization’s board members, whom were nominated by Joe Biden.
Trump previously threatened to make the Kennedy Center “GREAT AGAIN,” announcing his plan last week to remove those “who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture.”
“We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP!” he added. “Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP. The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation. For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!”
