Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · August 15, 2025 · Entertainment

Ana Navarro Urges Gloria Gaynor to Reject Kennedy Center Honor from Trump

The View's Ana Navarro urged Gloria Gaynor, the singer of 'I Will Survive', to refuse her upcoming Kennedy Center award simply because it will be bestowed by Donald Trump on Thursday. She reminded the songstress that many of her fans are gay

Gloria Gaynor's Kennedy Center Honor: A Sticky Situation, Courtesy of Donald Trump

The world of entertainment has always been a place where drama and excitement reign supreme. And the latest controversy surrounding iconic singer Gloria Gaynor's upcoming Kennedy Center Honors is no exception. The 81-year-old songstress, best known for her hit anthem "I Will Survive," has found herself at the center of a heated debate after being named as one of this year's recipients of the prestigious award.

But here's the catch: Donald Trump, the current chairman of the Kennedy Center, will be hosting the event. And Ana Navarro, a regular co-host on The View, is not having it. In a lengthy Instagram post, Navarro urged Gaynor to decline the honor, citing Trump's history of attacking women's rights, people of color, and the LGBTQ+ community.

"Gloria, you are a goddess, and I'm sure you deserve all the flowers in the world," Navarro wrote. "But I wish you wouldn't accept an award from the hands of a man who has consistently shown contempt for those very groups that have supported your music over the years."

Navarro's post also included a personal anecdote about meeting Gaynor at one of her concerts a few years ago. She revealed that Gaynor had given her a keychain that played "I Will Survive" when you pressed it, and let's just say Navarro gave it plenty of use during Trump's first term in office.

The View co-hosts have always been known for their outspoken opinions, but this particular issue seems to have hit close to home. Sunny Hostin previously faced criticism from the show's audience after she suggested that Gloria Gaynor may not be a feminist due to her response to being labeled as one by others.

Gloria Gaynor, 81, was named as one of the Kennedy Center Honors recipients for 2025, by Trump, on Wednesday. She's seen performing in New York City in 2023

In an interview with Metro in May, Gaynor explained that she doesn't see herself as a feminist, stating, "I love men." The comment sparked outrage among some viewers, who felt it was a misunderstanding of the concept of feminism. Hostin attempted to defend Gaynor's stance on the show, but it seemed clear that many fans were left scratching their heads.

Sara Haines chimed in with her own thoughts on the matter, suggesting that Gaynor might be a feminist without even realizing it due to the evolution of the movement over the years. Whoopi Goldberg jumpstarted the debate by asking her co-hosts why Gaynor had such a reaction in the first place.

But back to the Kennedy Center Honors controversy: despite Navarro's impassioned plea, Gloria Gaynor has confirmed that she will indeed accept the award. In a statement released on Wednesday, she expressed her gratitude for being recognized and stated that she hopes to continue inspiring people around the world with her music.

He's set to host the event following his forced takeover of the DC venue back in February. The center is funded by American taxpayers

"My hope is that in accepting this honor, I can continue with the inspirational phenomenon that began with 'I Will Survive,' sharing my music and art on a global level to provide encouragement, hope, empowerment, inspiration, understanding, and unity," Gaynor said.

The singer's acceptance of the award has sparked heated debates online, with some fans defending her decision while others are outraged. The question on everyone's mind is: will Gloria Gaynor's Kennedy Center Honor be tainted by Trump's presence? Only time will tell.

In related news, other stars set to receive awards at this year's celebration include George Strait, Sylvester Stallone, the rock band Kiss, and actor-singer Michael Crawford. It seems like it'll be a star-studded event, but will Gaynor's decision to accept the award overshadow the entire evening? The world is watching.

At the time, the conservative - now the center's chairman - said the move was designed to put an end to events featuring performers in drag

Navarro - after reportedly pushing back against network requests to dial back her complaining about Trump last spring - urged Gaynor to take notice

Gaynor previously faced criticism from The View when the hosts sought to speak for her after she said she was not a feminist

Sara Haines, a former correspondent for both GMA and Today, suggested the singer was simply mistaken, and that she is a feminist without even realizing it

Gaynor - seen here in her 70s heyday - never responded to the women's criticism, as was the case this week with Navarro. She's set to accept the award alongside other recipients like George Strait, Sylvester Stallone, and the band Kiss in December