• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Arts & Entertainment

Bruce Springsteen Cancels North Carolina Concert Over Bathroom Law

Barb Darrow
By
Barb Darrow
Barb Darrow
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 8, 2016, 5:28 PM ET
A+E Networks "Shining A Light" Concert
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 18: Recording artist Bruce Springsteen performs onstage at A+E Networks "Shining A Light" concert at The Shrine Auditorium on November 18, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for A+E Networks)Photograph by Christopher Polk — Getty Images

Add Bruce Springsteen to the list of people pushing back against North Carolina’s controversial new “bathroom” law or House Bill 2.

On Friday, Springsteen released a statement that he is canceling his Sunday Greensboro concert due to the law, which he dubbed a violation of the civil rights of LGBT people.

The law, enacted two weeks ago, repealed a local Charlotte ordinance that would have allowed transgender people to use public bathrooms that match their gender identities. That meant a person born male but who identifies as a female, could use the woman’s room at a restaurant or a stadium. The repeal of that law means that people must use the bathrooms that match their gender at birth.

IBM to North Carolina: Cut It Out

Proponents of House Bill 2 maintain that this prevents men using women’s locker rooms or bathrooms. Opponents say it discrimates against transgender and LGBT people.

Bruce Springsteen cancels NC concert on account of new bigoted law, 'some things more important than a rock show' https://t.co/BvAAryFsvN

— Occupy Wall Street with a General Strike (@OccupyWallStNYC) April 8, 2016

The law, which was signed quickly by Governor Pat McCrory, has come under fire from high-tech firms including Apple (AAPL), IBM (IBM) and other giant employers in the state including the Bank of America (BAC)

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

Advocacy groups including the ACLU quickly sued the state over the law and North Carolina’s attorney general, Roy Cooper (a Democrat who is challenging McCrory in the next election) has said he will not defend House Bill 2, which he deems unconstitutional.

Springsteen’s statement said, in part:

Some things are more important than a rock show and this fight against prejudice and bigotry—which is happening as I write—is one of them. It is the strongest means I have for raising my voice in opposition to those who continue to push us backwards instead of forwards.

LGBT Small Business Owners Just Scored a Big MLB Win

Other celebrities have also voiced disapproval. For example, actor/director Rob Reiner has called for a boycott of the state.

About the Author
Barb Darrow
By Barb Darrow
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Arts & Entertainment

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.


Latest in Arts & Entertainment

Trump
PoliticsWhite House
The Kennedy Center is now the Trump Kennedy Center, White House says
By Nick Lichtenberg, Darlene Superville and The Associated PressDecember 18, 2025
12 hours ago
Personal FinanceLoans
When is a personal loan a good idea?
By Joseph HostetlerDecember 18, 2025
14 hours ago
Joe Anders and Kate Winslet
SuccessCareers
Her two Gen Z children have starred in her films, but Oscar award-winning actress Kate Winslet says nepo baby allegations are ‘silly’
By Emma BurleighDecember 18, 2025
17 hours ago
Bongino
PoliticsFBI
‘I think he wants to go back to his show’: Dan Bongino retreats from FBI back to conspiracy podcasting
By Eric Tucker and The Associated PressDecember 17, 2025
1 day ago
A statue of the Oscars statuette
Arts & EntertainmentYouTube
YouTube is giving the Oscars the lifeline it desperately needs
By Dave SmithDecember 17, 2025
2 days ago
James Cameron holding a microphone, gesturing
SuccessWealth
James Cameron is now a billionaire. The boomer college dropout worked odd jobs like truck driving before making his big break with films like Avatar
By Preston ForeDecember 17, 2025
2 days ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Economy
The $38 trillion national debt is to blame for over $1 trillion in annual interest payments from here on out, CRFB says
By Nick LichtenbergDecember 17, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
C-Suite
Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun says the key to being a better leader is being a better person: ‘Leadership is self-improvement’
By Sydney LakeDecember 17, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Success
As millions of Gen Zers face unemployment, McDonald's CEO dishes out some tough love career advice for navigating the market: ‘You've got to make things happen for yourself’
By Preston ForeDecember 16, 2025
3 days ago
placeholder alt text
AI
'Robots are going to be amongst us': Qualcomm exec says buckle up for the next 5 years. Your car is going to be the first shoe to drop
By Nino PaoliDecember 17, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Future of Work
LinkedIn CEO says it's 'outdated' to have a five-year career plan: It's a 'little bit foolish' considering the pace AI is changing the workplace
By Sydney LakeDecember 18, 2025
19 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
‘This is a wacky number’: economists cry foul as new government data assumes zero housing inflation in surprising November drop
By Eva RoytburgDecember 18, 2025
15 hours ago