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A Bruce Springsteen fan club couldn’t escape the badlands and shuttered over political commentary.
Founded more than a decade ago, the “Spring-Nuts” Facebook group dedicated to The Boss noticed its 18,000 members were no longer focused on his music as they battled against “hateful” online discourse due to Springsteen’s public stances and recent endorsement of Michigan’s senator-elect, Abdul El-Sayed.
“As the world grew increasingly divisive, hostile, those tensions inevitably spilled into our little corner of the E Street world,” founders Julie and Howie Chaz said in a statement posted on Sunday, Nov. 8, according to Asbury Park Press.
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“What should have been respectful differences of opinion too often deteriorated into personal attacks, bullying, insults, and some genuinely vile and hateful rhetoric.”
Springsteen embarked on the “Land of Hope and Dreams” tour earlier this year with the E Street Band and legendary guitarist Tom Morello.
The 20-date tour across North America was slated in response to President Donald Trump and the “No Kings” protests.
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“We are living through dark, disturbing and dangerous times, but do not despair – the cavalry is coming,” Springsteen said while announcing the tour on social media in February.
“We will be rocking your town in celebration and in defense of America – American democracy, American freedom, our American Constitution and our sacred American dream – all of which are under attack by our wannabe king and his rogue government in Washington, D.C.”
He added, “Everyone, regardless of where you stand or what you believe in, is welcome – so come on out and join the United Free Republic of E Street Nation for an American spring of rock ‘n’ rebellion! I’ll see you there!”
“Spring-Nuts” founder Howie Chaz admitted that as Springsteen became “more outspoken about his politics,” the group administrators were tasked with a “difficult balancing act” of respecting “his absolute right” while maintaining an ethical online community.
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“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 said.
Springsteen’s November endorsement of El-Sayed as “a fighter for our American Constitution” was the final straw for admins.
“Mr. Sayed campaigned with Hasan Piker who openly made horrific statements that America deserved 9/11,” Howie said.
“After a Michigan synagogue was attacked back in March, obviously an act of terrorism, Sayed rationalized it by saying ‘Hurt people hurt people’ standing right next to the antisemitic streamer Hasan Piker who made the despicable 9/11 statement.”
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His endorsement was “deeply disappointing to us, given our concerns as proud Jews,” Julie and Howie 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.”
While the group’s annual Seaside Serenade and Spring-Nuts podcasts will continue under a different name, the group will rebrand with a focus on music in general, Howie told the Asbury Park Press.
“One thing we want to make absolutely clear is that Julie and I can NEVER thank Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band enough for the decades of music, memories, inspiration, and absolute JOY they have brought into our lives,” Howie said on Facebook.
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“Bruce has been, and always will be, an enormous part of our personal story and journey. His music has been the soundtrack to so many of the most meaningful moments of our lives, and through Spring-Nuts, it opened doors, created opportunities, and introduced us to extraordinary people and experiences we could never have imagined.”
Springsteen’s representatives did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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