Springsteen Concert Snub Fuels Rumors of Rift with Chris Christie

On May 14, 2024, Bruce Springsteen performed his 180th show at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. During the closing of “10th Avenue Freeze-Out,” former New Jersey governor Chris Christie stood beside the stage with his hand raised for a high-five. Springsteen passed Christie without completing the gesture, then resumed the song, addressing the crowd with a brief greeting to Christie.

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Christie has identified as a Springsteen fan since his teens, praising *Born to Run* in 2015. Their public interactions reflect political divergence: Springsteen is a vocal Democrat and longtime Trump critic; Christie, a Republican, supported Trump in 2016, broke with him after Jan. 6, and challenged him in the 2024 primary. In 2014 Springsteen mocked Christie’s “Bridgegate” scandal on *The Tonight Show* with a parody song, though the two later reconciled after an airport encounter.

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Footage shows Springsteen turning away from Christie, concentrating on the stage, and then offering a brief greeting to Christie before resuming the song. Christie’s reaction includes a brief pause, a withdrawn hand, and a slow clap as he attempts to re-engage with the performance.

Daily Beast

Springsteen’s manager Jon Landau denied any rift, stating that Christie attended the 180th show as a guest and that the two remain friends. Christie posted a backstage photo taken the prior week with Springsteen, captioning it “Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true?”—a line from “The River.”

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Media outlets described the incident as a snub, noting Christie’s crestfallen expression and interpreting the missed high-five as evidence of a broader rift. The Daily Beast framed the episode as a deliberate snub by Springsteen, emphasizing the political context of both men’s criticism of Trump.

Rolling Stone

Concert date: May 14, 2024; venue: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York; Springsteen’s show number: 180th; Christie’s age: 63; song during incident: “10th Avenue Freeze-Out.”

Rolling Stone

Landau’s claim that “stories claiming a break … are absurd” conflicts with media narratives that read the missed high-five as a sign of tension. Springsteen himself has not commented, and the timing of Christie’s backstage photo relative to the concert remains unclear.

Rolling Stone

• “Current stories claiming a break in the friendship between Bruce and Chris Christie are absurd,” — Jon Landau, Manager

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• “Come on, gov” — Bruce Springsteen, Concert audio

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• “Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true?” — Chris Christie, Photo caption

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• “Chris Christie is desperately trying to claw his way back in from the cold after anti-Trump rocker Bruce Springsteen brutally snubbed him at a concert.” — The Daily Beast, Article description

Daily Beast

Springsteen’s tour will continue with further 180th-show dates, for which Christie remains invited as a guest. Observers will monitor future backstage interactions for additional insight into the personal dynamic between the two.

Rolling Stone