Maroon 5 Cancels North Carolina Concerts To Protest Anti-LGBT Bill

Maroon 5 announced on Friday that they will not be performing their upcoming shows in North Carolina due to the state’s anti-LGBT bill.

Maroon 5 Cancels North Carolina Shows To Support LGBT Rights

“We have announced that we will be canceling our upcoming shows in Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina because of the recent passage of the HB2 legislation,” the band said in a statement on their website. “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.”

HB2, part of a list of “bathroom bills” across the states, forbids transgender individuals from using public bathrooms that match their gender identities. It also limits LGBT protections involving employment and equal pay.

Bruce Springsteen, Demi Lovato, and Nick Jonas are among the list of other musicians who also decided to cancel shows in North Carolina to protest the bill.

Cyndi Lauper and Mumford and Sons decided to donate profits from their North Carolina concerts to LGBT charities.

Maroon 5 are next scheduled to perform at Portugal’s Rock in Rio festival on May 28 and will end their tour Oct. 16 at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.