Bruce Springsteen apologises to Bono for refusing song for charity ad

Katie RosseinskyMon, June 15, 2026 at 4:57 AM UTC

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Bruce Springsteen has admitted that he regrets turning down Bono's request to use one of his songs in an advert for a charity fashion line.

The legendary musician, 76, was presented with the Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award at the Tribeca Festival, with the U2 frontman handing out the honour.

As he gave Springsteen the award, Bono, 66, reminded the New Jersey-born star that he had once refused to let him use his song "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" to soundtrack a Gap advert, promoting the (PRODUCT) RED campaign, which raised money to fight Aids and HIV.

"I said, 'Bruce, this song 'Girls in Their Summer Clothes,' this is like one of the great pop songs ever," Bono recalled.

"'Would you think about using it for a commercial, for (RED) and the Gap?' And you said, 'No.'"

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Springsteen and Bono performing in 2009 (Getty Images)

Springsteen described his refusal as "a big mistake", adding: "I should have said yes."

"That was just a song that I love," he continued.

"Damn it, I still think back: 'Bono asked you to put this thing on a commercial on television.' I should have f****** done it! People would hear it like a hit, you know? So I have to apologise."

Springsteen received the Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award (Getty Images)

During the event, Bono hailed Springsteen as a musician who "made poetry from the voices of the people and set that poetry to music".

The pair also discussed how Springsteen has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump, with the star admitting that he feels "pissed off and angry" about America right now.

"But in the past 50 years, I've put together a band that was built for hard times like this," he added. "I put together a big body of work that was built for hard times, and I was always singing for the moment."

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”