UPDATE: Springsteen Responds (Kind Of)....
Steven Van Zandt, Bruce Springsteen's guitarist and Tony Soprano's consigliere, came out in a big way to decry the so-called "bullying" that Vice-President Elect Mike Pence experienced during a performance of "Hamilton", as reported yesterday.
Unfortunately he did so, mainly on Twitter, in a manner which some denounced as resembling actual bullying (You can read all the relevant tweets here).
Reading his tweets, I actually wondered if it was really Steven we were hearing from, or his tough-talking character Silvio from "The Sopranos".
Steven has nothing to prove to anyone about being politically active (see his 1985 all-star, anti-apartheid video "Sun City" above feat Nobel winner Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Run DMC, Miles Davis, Bono, and many others).
So it's hard to see why he would go to the mat for Pence, especially since people like Springsteen and Van Zandt practically wrote the book when it comes to being a politically-active rocker.
It's one thing to have an opinion. And the best of us are sometimes wrong. But Steven's attacks on people that disagreed with him did seem to cross the line into actual bullying, which is not an accurate way to characterize what Pence experienced at the theater.
Pence is a bully. He was not bullied.
Why is one of ours defending him?
Steven, I think you owe the people you bullied an apology as well as apologizing to your fans for seeming to defend a bully and, by extension, his policies.
It takes a big man to admit they were wrong, but I know you are big enough to do it.
P.S. His bandmate Nils Lofgren respectfully disagreed with Steven.
Will Bruce Springsteen come out against Steven's remarks???
Steven's remarks weirdly echoed Trump on the matter:
Steven made some statements on Twitter. Fans responded, and he answered them, in real time.
I think the language and tone constitute bullying on Steven's part.
You can judge for yourself...
Unfortunately he did so, mainly on Twitter, in a manner which some denounced as resembling actual bullying (You can read all the relevant tweets here).
Reading his tweets, I actually wondered if it was really Steven we were hearing from, or his tough-talking character Silvio from "The Sopranos".
Steven has nothing to prove to anyone about being politically active (see his 1985 all-star, anti-apartheid video "Sun City" above feat Nobel winner Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Run DMC, Miles Davis, Bono, and many others).
So it's hard to see why he would go to the mat for Pence, especially since people like Springsteen and Van Zandt practically wrote the book when it comes to being a politically-active rocker.
It's one thing to have an opinion. And the best of us are sometimes wrong. But Steven's attacks on people that disagreed with him did seem to cross the line into actual bullying, which is not an accurate way to characterize what Pence experienced at the theater.
Pence is a bully. He was not bullied.
Why is one of ours defending him?
Steven, I think you owe the people you bullied an apology as well as apologizing to your fans for seeming to defend a bully and, by extension, his policies.
It takes a big man to admit they were wrong, but I know you are big enough to do it.
P.S. His bandmate Nils Lofgren respectfully disagreed with Steven.
Will Bruce Springsteen come out against Steven's remarks???
Steven's remarks weirdly echoed Trump on the matter:
- The cast and producers of Hamilton, which I hear is highly overrated, should immediately apologize to Mike Pence for their terrible behavior
- The Theater must always be a safe and special place.The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!
- Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing.This should not happen!
Donald J. Trump Steven made some statements on Twitter. Fans responded, and he answered them, in real time.
I think the language and tone constitute bullying on Steven's part.
You can judge for yourself...
- Ok. Enough. I'm done. Summing up-1) You want to compare yourself to them, good luck. 2) Treating people with civility is NOT AN ENDORSEMENT!
- How's the weather in fantasyland? A shame you missed the 60s. All the rights you take for granted were fought for. The struggle continues.
- What are you like 10? I've spent my life defending human rights including LGBT. Remember us boycotting North Carolina? Were you born yet?
- Yeah that's what I said alright. We should treat the VP with civility and then electroshock teens. Glad you were paying attention. Amazing.
- Wow! Now there's an insight! Would you believe that never even occurred to me! Did you come up with that all by yourself?
- I'm still here tough guy. I spent the time because it happens to be a worthwhile and important discussion. Explain to me why I'm so stupid.
- You want to be serious do you? Then why are you comparing your ethics to others'? Where is your pride? Your identity? You want to be them?
- It was inappropriate to use their advantage to do so. On the contrary, they threw away their shot. Lin should meet with Pence and talk.
- I know all this and more. It changes nothing. If we want to have a serious discussion with him then we should. Not a one way conversation.
- It's our actions that concern me. His actions will be dealt with in the appropriate time and place. Not while he's a guest in our house.
- What the fuck are you talking about?!? Geezus can you really be that stupid? https://twitter.com/spillane/status/800154084129050624 …This Tweet is unavailable.
- Then that governor needs to be removed. By the electoral process. And the public needs to be educated. And that gay kid needs to organize.
- No. He doesn't participate in or tolerate bullying. He strategizes. He organizes. He makes his moves in the appropriate places and time.
- How about IN THE PLAY! For starters. Just as Lin-Manuel is already brilliantly doing. And oh yeah, elections.
- It was the most respectful, benign form of bullying ever. But bullying nonetheless. And by the way, human rights must be won, not asked for.
- That statement may prove to be correct for these men in their new positions, we'll see. But that doesn't mean we have to lose our civility.
- The statement is beautiful. And completely inappropriate at that time. And I would defend the cast's right to be inappropriate forever.
- That's the difference between Rock and Theater. Different art forms. Different expectations. Different protocols as to what's appropriate.
- The cast was not intentionally rude. The speech was heartfelt with content shared by all of us. Given at the wrong place at the wrong time.
- Bigotry is obviously never acceptable. I am saying it is a bad precedent for actors to start addressing audience members! Please read all.
- So because he's a public figure we should be rude to him and bully him at public events? I'm not the one who couldn't be more wrong on this. https://twitter.com/laura0701/status/800041740078116864 …This Tweet is unavailable.
- You draw the line at singling out an audience member. And by the way it's not exactly an analogous situation.Too complicated to discuss here
- Please don't misunderstand. Everyone who is sane disagrees with his policies. This was not the time or place to do it is all I'm saying.
- You don't single out an audience member and embarrass him from the stage. A terrible precedent to set.
- A guy comes to a Broadway show for a relaxing night out. Instead he gets a lecture from the stage! Not a level playing field. It's bullying.
- Of course nobody is giving him a pass for any of his views! That is not the time or place to do it. Picture it happening to someone you like
- Does anybody seriously think I have nothing better to do than criticize the greatest play I've ever seen? The one true genius?@Lin_Manuel
- Nobody on this planet disagrees more with everything Pence represents. But I don't tolerate bullying in any form. Even the respectful kind.
- I love you Richard. You want to do this in public? We can. The Broadway Community and its Art need to be protected. My logic is impeccable.
- >have criticized Trump for in the past. It's taking unfair advantage of someone who thought they were a protected guest in your home.
- When artists perform the venue becomes your home. The audience are your guests. It is nothing short of the same bullying tactic we rightly>
- There has never been a more outspoken politically active artist than me. He was their guest. You protect your guests. Don't embarrass them.
- >Completely inappropriate. Theater should be a safe haven for Art to speak. Not the actors. He needs to apologize to Mike Pence @Lin_Manuel
- Lin-Manuel is a genius. He has created the greatest play since West Side Story. He is also a role model. This sets a terrible precedent>
- Hamilton made a mistake. Audiences shouldn't have to worry about being blindsided like that. Theater should be sanctuary for Art to speak.
Stevie Van Zandt 
Any chance you get to speak truth to power right now, you have to take it.
