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Maroon 5 Cancels North Carolina Shows To Protest Anti-LGBT HB2

By Patricia Ramirez
Published on: 08:10 PST, May 20, 2016

https://rumble.com/embed/vce08/

Maroon 5 just became the latest band to cancel upcoming shows in North Carolina. The move came in response to the state’s highly controversial HB2, otherwise known as the “bathroom bill.” HB2 has received nationwide, and even international, criticism since it was signed into law in late March, with many calling it some of the most blatantly anti-LGBT legislation in the United States.

As CNN Money reports, Maroon 5 announced on May 20 that the band will be cancelling two upcoming shows in the state, one in Raleigh and the other in Charlotte. Maroon 5 made the announcement on Twitter and on the band’s website.

On the Maroon 5 website, the band said that the cancellation of the shows, which were to take place on September 11 and 12, respectively, comes down to morality.

“This was a difficult decision for us to make as a band. We don’t want to penalize our fans in North Carolina by not performing for them, but in the end it comes down to what we feel is morally right.”

Maroon 5 Performing
[Photo by David Becker/Getty Images]
Maroon 5 is not the first band to cancel shows in North Carolina since HB2 passed. Big name artists such as Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam, among many others, have already cancelled performances in the state, citing a boycott due to the controversial new bathroom bill. North Carolina has also been boycotted by multiple corporations, and even some municipalities, in response to what many to be a discriminatory law.

HB2 was enacted on a fast-track basis, in response to an law passed by the City of Charlotte. Charlotte had passed an anti-discrimination ordinance for the LGBT community in the city, allowing trans citizens to use the bathroom of their choosing and prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. In response, the North Carolina legislature passed HB2, which prohibits trans citizens from using the bathroom of their choosing and further prevents cities in North Carolina from passing their own anti-discrimination bills.

Group Maroon 5
[Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images]
Maroon 5, like other performing artists to cancel shows in the state, believes that the legislation is anti-trans and anti-LGBT.

It’s not just corporations and performing artists such as Maroon 5 that have been critical of the North Carolina legislation. While artists have been boycotting and protesting the state by cancelling shows, the federal government has gone a step further. The Justice Department recently advised North Carolina leaders that HB2 violates the Civil Rights Act and told the state to stop enforcing the illegal legislation. The state responded by suing the feds and doubling down on their commitment to “protect citizens” from trans people in the bathroom. The feds also recently sent out guidelines to all schools in the United States, advising administrators to allow trans students to use the restroom they identify with. Not surprisingly, the measure prompted a lot of backlash from individuals and state government’s alike.

North Carolina leaders haven’t spoken publicly about the full magnitude of the economic toll the state has suffered since HB2 was passed, but it’s apparent that the money lost by the state goes well beyond cancelled shows.

The state did respond to Maroon 5’s cancelled show, however. Ricky Diaz, spokesman for Governor Pat McCrory, released a statement directed at Maroon 5 and their cancelled show. In his statement, he asked why the band chose to cancel their show now. He even went to so far as to call the band “hypocritical,” stating that Maroon 5 has performed shows in areas with worse LGBT rights records than North Carolina.

“Hundreds of concerts have been successfully performed across North Carolina, including Beyoncé, over the past few weeks since the law passed. We may never know why Maroon 5 waited until weeks later to make their political statement, but at this point, the only people they are hurting by hypocritically targeting North Carolina for selective outrage are their fans and the hardworking men and women servicing these shows while they keep tour dates overseas – even in Russia.”

While Diaz slammed Maroon 5 for arbitrarily punishing North Carolina workers when the band cancelled their show, many of the businesses and artists who have boycotted the state have expressed concerns for their employees human rights within the borders of the state. Namely, corporations and performing artists don’t want their employees and/or crew facing discrimination while working in the state.

Maroon 5 Show
[Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images]
The social media response to Maroon 5 and their decision to cancel their show was almost immediate, with fans and critics alike hitting up the Maroon 5 Twitter feed.

While Maroon 5 is the most recent band to cancel shows in North Carolina, it’s unlikely to be the last. Particularly, as the battle over HB2 is looking more and more likely to end up in the nation’s highest court. Maroon 5 fans who bought tickets to their cancelled shows can get their money refunded at the point of purchase.

What do you think? Are you a Maroon 5 fan? Did the band go too far with today’s cancellations? Do bands who boycott North Carolina punish the wrong people? Was Maroon 5 right to cancel their North Carolina shows?

[Photo by David Becker/Getty Images]

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