Selena Gomez Won't Cancel North Carolina Concert Over Anti-LGBT Law

Instead, the singer promised to donate some of the show's proceeds to Equality North Carolina.
Singer Selena Gomez performs at The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on June 2, 2016.
Singer Selena Gomez performs at The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on June 2, 2016.
Brian Killian via Getty Images

Selena Gomez has confirmed that she won't be canceling her North Carolina concert.

The "Hands To Myself" singer explained in a statement to E! News that, despite her disagreement with the state's controversial anti-LGBT bill, HB2, she thinks performing on Tuesday is the right thing for her to do.

"I am very fortunate to have grown up in a home where I learned from an early age that everyone should be treated equally," Gomez said. "I went back and forth on whether I should cancel my concert in North Carolina and ultimately I think what is right for me is to move forward with my show and donate a portion of the proceeds to Equality North Carolina and their effort to defeat this act of discrimination."

She added, "I've been reassured the venue I will be performing in has gender neutral bathrooms as I want everyone coming to my show to be welcomed. I feel like my generation is the most progressive one yet and believe there will be a day soon when laws like HB2 won't even be a consideration."

Stars such as Jimmy Buffet and Ellen DeGeneres have already spoken out against HB2, while Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam and Maroon 5 canceled their concerts in protest.

“Some things are more important than a rock show and this fight against prejudice and bigotry — which is happening as I write — is one of them,” Springsteen wrote in a statement after announcing his decision to cancel a show in April.

Gomez's fellow Disney alums, Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas, also decided to scrap their North Carolina concert in response to HB2. In a statement, the duo called the law "disappointing" but assured fans "we will not allow this to stop us from continuing to make progress for equality and acceptance."

HB2, which passed in a special session in March, blocks cities from passing non-discrimination laws and bars transgender people from using the public restroom that corresponds with their gender identity.

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