Overview
- Bruce Springsteen apologized to Bono for refusing to license the 2007 song "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" for a Gap/(PRODUCT)RED commercial during the Tribeca Festival presentation.
- The apology came as Bono presented Springsteen with the 2026 Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award that Springsteen said he accepted in the name of citizens who opposed federal policing in Minneapolis, Portland and Los Angeles.
- The event featured musical moments including Patti Smith performing "People Have the Power" with Springsteen and Bono joining on backup, and Springsteen closing with a solo acoustic "Land of Hope and Dreams."
- Tribeca co-founder Robert De Niro introduced the program with a pointed critique of President Donald Trump and praised Springsteen’s role in speaking for the powerless, a theme repeated in Springsteen’s conversation with Bono.
- The evening reinforced Springsteen’s recent civic work, coming days after the opening of the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music and following his Land of Hope & Dreams tour that foregrounded protest songs and criticism of federal actions.