Adam Levine will not bring his string of hits to North Carolina this fall.
Maroon 5 is the latest major act to cancel an upcoming concert in the state in protest of its LGBT law, better known as HB2.
The band announced on its website Friday that it was canceling its Sept. 11 concert at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte and Sept. 12 at PNC Arena in Raleigh.
“We will be canceling our upcoming shows in Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina because of the recent passage of the HB2 legislation,” the band’s statement said. “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.”
North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory’s team responded to Maroon 5’s cancellation by saying Levine and Co. were “hypocritically targeting” the state.
A statement given to the Charlotte Observer stated, “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.”
The movement of artists cancelling shows in the state began with Bruce Springsteen in April . So far, veteran acts including Ringo Starr and Pearl Jam and current Top 40 stars Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas are among those who have nixed shows in North Carolina on their upcoming tours.
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