Little Steven does not apologize for picture with Sarah Palin: 'I welcome common ground'
Some Little Steven Van Zandt fans are upset that they can see conservative firebrand Sarah Palin with him in a picture.
The two, and others, were photographed at Little Steven’s Policeman’s Ball, a benefit for New York City cops, on Dec. 21 at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in the city.
Palin was there as a guest of one of the night's honorees, former New York Rangers player Ron Duguay. The two have been romantically linked, according to the New York Post.
On Dec. 29, a fan of the E Street Band guitarist and "Sopranos" cast member expressed dismay about the photo on X.
“The only requirement to walk into that room that I care about is supporting the NYPD,” said Van Zandt on X. “We honored Ron Duguay and he brought his girlfriend. And she was welcome. My priorities are Widows and Children and Children with Special Needs. That’s what matters that night. Not politics.”
Amid lots of football talk on Tuesday, Jan 2, a fan asked Van Zandt on X why Palin was at “his party.”
“It wasn’t 'my party,'“ Van Zandt replied. “We were both at the same fundraiser! Because we both have one thing in common. We support the NYPD. That may be the only thing we have in common, but so what? I welcome any common ground between humans these days.”
Cop Talk host Kevin Schroeder, Sarah Palin, Ron Duguay, Stevie Van Zandt and Brian Williams at Little Steven's Policeman's Ball pic.twitter.com/ZJfLH9NDyb
— 77 WABC's COP TALK (wabcradio.com/podcast/cop-talk (@CopTalkWABC) December 29, 2023
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Drew Carey and Brian Williams were also in the group shot. Sid Rosenberg, 77 WABC host, was also an honoree of the evening. Actor Vinny Pastore hosted, and the Max Weinberg Orchestra, Gary U.S. Bonds and Killer Joe performed. The cheapest seat was $2,500.
Palin was the running mate of Republican presidential candidate John McCain in 2008. Palin’s a former governor of Alaska who lost a bid for a seat in the House of Representatives in 2022.
Little Steven returns to concert stages with Springsteen and the E Street Band starting March 19 in Phoenix.
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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Little Steven does not apologize for picture with Sarah Palin
