• 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
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The law, enacted two weeks ago, repealed a local Charlotte ordinance that would have allowed transgender people to use public bathrooms that match their gender identities.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
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

© 2026 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.


Most Popular

placeholder alt text
North America
'I meant what I said in Davos': Carney says he really is planning a Canada split with the U.S. along with 12 new trade deals
By Rob Gillies and The Associated PressJanuary 28, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
C-Suite
Fortune 500 CEOs are no longer giving employees an A for effort. Now they want proof of impact
By Claire ZillmanJanuary 28, 2026
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Politics
The American taxpayer spent nearly half a billion dollars deploying federal troops to U.S. cities in 2025, CBO finds
By Nick LichtenbergJanuary 28, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
C-Suite
Jeff Bezos capped his Amazon salary at $80,000: ‘How could I possibly need more incentive?’
By Sydney LakeJanuary 28, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Every U.S. Olympian is going home with $200,000, whether they medal or not, thanks to a billionaire's $100 million gift
By Jacqueline MunisJanuary 28, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Politics
11 days before he was shot and killed by ICE, Alex Pretti kicked out a vehicle taillight and got wrestled to the ground
By Michael Biesecker, Jesse Bedayn and The Associated PressJanuary 29, 2026
12 hours ago

Latest in Arts & Entertainment

kermit
Arts & EntertainmentTV
The saga of the billion-dollar sock: The Muppets’ 50th birthday marks a long and profitable run
By Jared Bahir Browsh and The ConversationJanuary 29, 2026
4 hours ago
ms shirley
LawObituary
TikTok’s ‘Ms. Shirley,’ who drew 5 million followers watching her care for the homeless, dies at 58
By Rebecca Boone and The Associated PressJanuary 29, 2026
6 hours ago
TikTok influencer Khaby Lame sits and talks.
AISocial Media
Getting deported by Trump can’t stop top influencer Khaby Lame from notching a $975 million deal—including the rights to his AI avatar
By Jake AngeloJanuary 29, 2026
7 hours ago
springsteen
PoliticsMusic
Bruce Springsteen dedicates ‘Streets of Minneapolis’ to ‘innocent immigrant neighbors,’ memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good
By Mark Kennedy and The Associated PressJanuary 29, 2026
8 hours ago
melania
PoliticsWhite House
Now playing at the Trump Kennedy Center: ‘Melania,’ brought to you by Amazon Prime
By Darlene Superville and The Associated PressJanuary 29, 2026
10 hours ago
beast
Personal FinanceSocial Media
MrBeast has figured out his next ‘transformative media channel’: 2.5 million fortune cookies with messages tied to his TV show
By Nick LichtenbergJanuary 28, 2026
1 day ago