SpringNuts Founders Say Fan Group Will Close After Political Disputes

The founders of SpringNuts, a Bruce Springsteen fan community on Facebook, say they are closing the group after political disputes among members escalated into personal attacks, bullying and hateful rhetoric. They identified Springsteen’s endorsement of Abdul El-Sayed as a breaking point, while saying the decision followed broader tensions over the singer’s political statements.

Julie and Howie Chaz said in a statement that disagreements that should have remained respectful had deteriorated. The group, which had more than 18,000 members, had rules against political discussion and bullying, but the founders said administrators found it increasingly difficult to maintain a music-focused community as Springsteen spoke more openly about politics.

Howie Chaz said the endorsement of El-Sayed, a Michigan Senate candidate described in the reports as senator-elect, was particularly difficult for the founders. He also raised concerns about El-Sayed’s association with Hasan Piker, a political streamer. Chaz’s allegations about Piker and El-Sayed’s response to a synagogue attack were not independently substantiated in the reports, and El-Sayed has publicly disagreed with Piker’s...