Bruce Springsteen Receives Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award, Apologizes to Bono for Declining Gap Commercial

On June 13, 2026, the Tribeca Festival honored Bruce Springsteen with the Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award. U2’s Bono presented the honor and recalled asking Springsteen years earlier to license “Girls in Their Summer Clothes” for a Gap ad supporting (RED). Springsteen responded onstage, apologizing and saying, “I should have f—ing done it!” and calling his refusal “a big mistake.”

Bruce Springsteen Apologizes to Bono for Blocking 'Girls in Their Summer Clothes' From GapVariety MagazineShelby StarBillboardBruce Springsteen Performs With Patti Smith and Apologizes to Bono at Tribeca Event: ‘I Should Have Said Yes’

Bono said the Gap spot was meant to raise money for (RED), a campaign that directs commercial proceeds to HIV/AIDS programs in Africa. He described “Girls in Their Summer Clothes” as “one of the great pop songs ever” and asked Springsteen to use it in the ad. Springsteen declined, later noting the song is a personal favorite and that the missed placement could have turned it into a hit.

Bruce Springsteen Apologizes to Bono for Blocking 'Girls in Their Summer Clothes' From Gap

Bruce Springsteen (awardee and performer), Bono (presenter and (RED) co-founder), Patti Smith (sang “People Have the Power”), Tony Shanahan (keyboardist), Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal (Tribeca co-founders), and Gap (the proposed commercial partner) were central to the ceremony.

Bruce Springsteen Performs With Patti Smith and Apologizes to Bono at Tribeca Event: ‘I Should Have Said Yes’

Springsteen dedicated the award to “the citizens of Minneapolis, Portland and Los Angeles who stood against the federal invasion of their cities,” referencing anti-ICE protests. De Niro introduced him as a voice that “leads the resistance” and condemned “the corruption and megalomania of one person,” alluding to President Donald J. Trump. Springsteen added he is “pissed off and angry” but believes his music serves “hard times like these.”

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Springsteen described himself as “just a concerned citizen” using his platform to “give voice to the powerless.” Bono expressed concern that “the left may have lost a little bit of it” and asked whether his politics had alienated fans. De Niro called Springsteen “a man who leverages his voice to champion the marginalized and spearhead resistance,” framing the award as recognition of sustained civic engagement.

Bruce Springsteen Performs With Patti Smith and Apologizes to Bono at Tribeca Event: ‘I Should Have Said Yes’

Bono warned that “the left lost a little bit of it” and noted accusations of elitism as “not inaccurate.” He asked Springsteen if his activism had “cost you” in terms of fan support, prompting Springsteen to admit uncertainty about the impact on his audience.

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• “I should have said yes.” — Bruce Springsteen

Variety Magazine

• “I should have f—ing done it!” — Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen Apologizes to Bono for Blocking 'Girls in Their Summer Clothes' From Gap

• “I fear sometimes we on the left lost a little bit of it and that the accusations of elitism that are out there for people like me are not inaccurate.” — Bono

Billboard

• “He knows what the problem is and he names it: Donald Trump.” — Robert De Niro

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• “Go Knicks.” — Bruce Springsteen

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