A Moment of Awkwardness at a Springsteen Concert
During a recent concert at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, Bruce Springsteen appeared to snub former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, sparking widespread discussion online. The incident occurred during an encore when the singer was moving through the crowd, greeting fans and high-fiving audience members along a walkway near the stage.
Christie, who has long been a devoted fan of Springsteen, seemed hopeful that his musical hero might acknowledge him in front of thousands of fans. Video footage from the event showed Christie extending his hand toward the singer as he approached, but Springsteen walked directly past the former governor before continuing through the arena.
Christie quickly pulled his hand back and began clapping along to the music, attempting to shake off the perceived snub. The clip quickly went viral, leading to speculation about whether the moment was intentional. Springsteen, known for his outspoken nature, has spent much of his latest tour criticizing President Donald Trump and his administration.
The clip was captured by sports media personality Mike Ryan, who later wrote that he believed it was inevitable from the moment he spotted Christie standing near the stage. In a detailed account posted online after the concert, Ryan claimed that Springsteen was aware of Christie’s presence throughout the performance.
- During multiple songs, Bruce would be on the far end of the stage, right in front of Christie, never once acknowledging Christie’s presence.
Ryan, who has seen Springsteen perform roughly three dozen times, noted that the veteran rocker appeared energized during his latest tour as he continues to criticize Trump and his administration.
- Springsteen’s hatred of the current administration and its policies have rejuvenated him. He is a man on a mission and he looks and sounds better than he did in 2023.
According to Ryan, the awkward moment unfolded during Springsteen’s traditional performance of ‘Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,’ when the singer routinely moves into the audience to shake hands and high-five fans.
- I knew there’s no way Chris Christie could resist trying to get a high five.
Ryan added that Springsteen had spent much of the evening blasting an administration Christie once served under.
- There is no chance in hell Springsteen is going to give someone who used to work for this administration a public high five.
Ryan also addressed claims that Springsteen had simply stopped greeting everyone at the end of his walk through the crowd.
- Bruce has just high fived probably 100 people. It’s as he approaches Christie that Bruce stops.
He concluded that the moment was intentional.
- Bruce knew he was there. Bruce, no doubt in my mind, consciously snubbed him. Bruce is still The Boss.
Christie himself has long been known as one of Springsteen’s most devoted celebrity fans, frequently attending concerts and publicly discussing his admiration for the singer and the E Street Band. That history only made the moment more excruciating for viewers watching the clip unfold online.
Springsteen has become increasingly vocal in his criticism of Trump during his latest tour. Back in March, the singer blasted the Trump White House as a ‘corrupt, incompetent, racist, reckless and treasonous administration,’ prompting Trump to lash out at the rock legend by calling him a ‘dried up prune.’
