Nick Jonas told Ellen DeGeneres Monday that he had to “put his foot down” and cancel tour dates in North Carolina last month over the state’s “bathroom bill.”
On “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” he said that the cancellations were a “bold statement.” Jonas and Demi Lovato canceled a June 30 appearance in Charlotte and a July 2 show in Raleigh, Rolling Stone reports.
“It’s an incredibly frustrating situation overall,” Jonas said. “We are very aware of our strong LGBT community fan base and the support they’ve given us and the support we want to give them.”
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“And this was a time where I feel like we said we have to make a bold statement, put our foot down and stand firm in something we believe in, and it’s unfortunate for the fans there and for us because we want to go play as many shows as possible,” he added. “But in our minds it’s the right thing to do. And hopefully our fans will stand united with us.”
Jonas and Lovato join other performers like Pearl Jam and Bruce Springsteen who have canceled shows in the state after it recently passed a law that prevents transgender people from using bathrooms in government buildings that don’t match their biological sex.