Bruce Springsteen’s fan club shuts down because it can’t stop arguing politics and his endorsement of Abdul El-Sayed

Bruce Springsteen’s fan club shuts down because it can’t stop arguing politics and his endorsement of Abdul El-Sayed Springsteen endorsed Michigan Democrat El-Sayed as ‘a fighter against the corrupt, lawless, and anti-American leadership currently in the White House’ - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in Bruce Springsteen’s fan club has shut down because it can’t stop arguing about politics and the singer’s endorsement of Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed. The New Jersey native has become an outspoken critic of Donald Trump, comparing him to a monarch in his song “Streets Of Minneapolis,” written in protest of the president’s immigration crackdown that resulted in the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti. The Spring-Nuts, a private Facebook page followed by more than 18,000 Springsteen fans, have stood by the artist for about a decade — but the group could not survive a move made by Springsteen last Monday. The day before the midterm elections, Springsteen endorsed El-Sayed, a progressive Democrat from Michigan who will become the first-ever Muslim senator in January. Trump had attacked El-Sayed on the campaign trail, baselessly calling him a “jihadist” and demanding he go through metal detectors at the U.S. Capitol building. “Dr. El-Sayed is a fighter for our American Constitution; he’s a fighter for our American Democracy, and he’s a fighter against the corrupt, lawless, and anti-American leadership currently in the White House. That’s why I’m in his corner 100%,” Springsteen wrote on X. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back, according to the Spring-Nuts’ founders Julie and Howie Chaz. “As the world grew increasingly divisive, hostile, those tensions inevitably spilled into our little corner of the E Street world,” the Chazs wrote in a statement posted to the group on Sunday and reviewed by the Asbury Park Press. “What should have been respectful differences of opinion too often deteriorated into personal attacks, bullying, insults, and some genuinely vile and hateful rhetoric.” The Spring-Nuts have laid out several hard rules on their Facebook page, including “No Politics Whatsoever” and “No Hate Speech or Bullying.” Howie explained how it became harder to separate art and politics on the page as Springsteen merged the two. “As Bruce became more outspoken about his politics, something we understood and respected as his absolute right, we found ourselves facing a difficult balancing act,” Howie said. “How could we be a Bruce Springsteen fan community trying to protect that harmony and camaraderie and ignore messages and statements coming directly from the very artist who brought us all together?” Howie specifically took issue with El-Sayed’s ties to Hasan Piker, a left-wing Twitch streamer who has been criticized for statements he’s made about Jewish people and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. El-Sayed has publicly disagreed with Piker’s controversial comments. Springsteen’s endorsement of El-Sayed “was deeply disappointing to us, given our concerns as proud Jews,” the fan group’s founders said. “We certainly don't believe Bruce intended for his message to make fans feel unwelcome. But very unfortunately, some of his fans appointed themselves the gatekeepers of who was and wasn't worthy of belonging in the E Street community.” The group will rebrand with a general music focus, according to the Asbury Park Press. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments [Image text:] 000 GKerive