Did Bruce Springsteen Really Snub Chris Christie? Manager Jon Landau Sets the Record Straight
Reports of a feud between Bruce Springsteen and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie are greatly exaggerated, according to Springsteen's manager, Jon Landau.
A video circulating online appeared to show Bruce Springsteen snubbing former New Jersey governor Chris Christie at a recent concert in Brooklyn, prompting headlines across various media outlets including TMZ, New York Post, and Fox News. However, Jon Landau, Springsteen's longtime manager, has dismissed these claims as a misinterpretation of the moment.
"Current stories claiming a break in the friendship between Bruce and Chris Christie are absurd," Landau stated to Rolling Stone. "We’ve all been friends for years, Chris was attending his 180th show, standing at the side of the stage as our guest. And we hope to see him at our next 180 shows, as our guest. Period."
The incident occurred near the end of Springsteen’s May 14 show at the Barclays Center, during "10th Avenue Freeze-Out." As Springsteen ventured into the crowd, Christie extended his hand for a high five, which Springsteen appeared to miss. This brief moment fueled speculation of a rift, despite video evidence suggesting Springsteen was simply focused on his performance. He even cheerfully said "Come on, gov" at the start of the song. (Check out the 2:40 mark in the below video.)
Many interpreted the failed high five as a sign of discord, given Springsteen's vocal Democratic stance and criticism of Trump, coupled with Christie's early support for Trump in 2016. However, Christie has since distanced himself from Trump, becoming a vocal critic.
Despite their political differences, Christie has remained a staunch supporter of Bruce Springsteen. "As a kid from Jersey, Born to Run spoke to me," Christie wrote on the album’s 40th anniversary in 2015. "Bruce wrote of the places and the people I knew. He wrote about our hopes and frustrations. He gave voice to the suburban kids like me who were filled with dreams and doubts. He was one of us."
To further dispel rumors of a feud, Christie shared a backstage photo with Springsteen from the past week, quoting a line from "The River": "Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true?"
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