North Carolina Republican Gov. Pat McCrory has apologized for claiming Bruce Springsteen lied about cancelling his concert for LGBT rights.
McCrory went on “The Big Show” with John Boy and Billy Big Tuesday and said Springsteen only sold 8,000 tickets for the concert venue which seats 16,000 people, Politifact reports. Springsteen cancelled the show to protest the state’s new transgender bathroom law, which requires transgender people use the restroom that corresponds with the sex on their birth certificate and bans local governments from making LGBT ordinances. The law has been the source of national debate and multiple boycotts.
“I love Bruce Springsteen,” McCrory said on the show. “I love his music, but he canceled a concert in Greensboro. By the way, they only had 8,000 tickets sold, with all respect. But Bruce doesn’t mention that. They didn’t quite get the ticket sales they wanted. Might have had something to do with it.”
He went on to say he doubts Springsteen read the law. But Politifact contacted the Greensboro Coliseum, which said 15,000 tickets had been sold for the concert, disputing McCrory’s claim. That number would mean the venue would have been mostly full, if not sold out by concert time. After McCrory was called out for his statement, he apologized.
“The governor apologizes for using the wrong number,” spokesman Josh Ellis told PolitiFact North Carolina in an email. “It’s too bad Bruce Springsteen actually canceled on nearly 15,000 people at the last minute. Regardless, the governor is still keeping his Springsteen albums despite their political disagreements.”
Springsteen said in a statement April 8 he would not hold his Greensboro concert, which was scheduled for April 10.
To my mind, it’s an attempt by people who cannot stand the progress our country has made in recognizing the human rights of all of our citizens to overturn that progress. Right now, there are many groups, businesses, and individuals in North Carolina working to oppose and overcome these negative developments. Taking all of this into account, I feel that this is a time for me and the band to show solidarity for those freedom fighters. As a result, and with deepest apologies to our dedicated fans in Greensboro, we have canceled our show scheduled for Sunday, April 10th. 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.
McCrory said on the show many business agree with him and the law but are afraid to say it out loud because their businesses will be attacked.
“That’s not America,” he said.
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