Norman Lear won't attend Kennedy Center Honors reception with President Trump

Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Renowned television producer Norman Lear says he will attend the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony, but not the traditional gathering hosted by the President of the United States before it.

"I could never turn my back on the @kencen. It represents the Arts and Humanities which mean everything to me," Lear tweeted Friday. "Of course, I'm accepting the honors. What I'm not accepting is the @WhiteHouse reception with @realDonaldTrump."

Honorees typically attend a reception at the White House before the gala, then sit with the president and his spouse during it and go to dinner with the first couple after it. This year's honorees are Lear, Carmen de Lavallade, Gloria Estefan, LL Cool J and Lionel Richie.

CBS confirmed this week President Donald Trump and his wife Melania will be participating in all of the high-profile events associated with the Kennedy Center Honors. The network is scheduled to broadcast the Dec. 3 ceremony on Dec. 26.

Lear, 95, is best known as the producer of All in the Family, Good Times, One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, Spinal Tap, Stand By Me and The Princess Bride. He also is the author of Even This I Get to Experience. He and his frequent collaborator Rob Reiner are vocal critics of Trump.