Bruce Springsteen Breaks Silence After Fake Rockefeller Christmas Story Explodes Online

Bruce Springsteen is not hosting this year’s “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” broadcast despite viral AI-generated posts suggesting otherwise. NBC confirmed that the program, airing Dec. 3 on NBC and Peacock, will instead be hosted by Reba McEntire. The misinformation spread widely across Facebook, accompanied by fabricated AI images depicting Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa in front of the iconic Rockefeller tree.
The false claims raised fan speculation throughout the week, prompting official clarification. The situation highlights the growing influence of AI-generated misinformation across social media platforms.

What Actually Happened

The misleading posts circulated with a fabricated narrative describing Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa delivering a “rare holiday duet.” The posts included links to a fake news site and generated tens of thousands of interactions from fans. NBC later verified that the 2025 special remains unchanged, with Reba McEntire set to host and major artists like Marc Anthony, Halle Bailey, Michael Bublé, Gwen Stefani and the Radio City Rockettes scheduled to perform.

According to Google’s 2024 misinformation audit, AI-generated content—particularly images—has become a dominant source of deceptive online claims. This case marks another example of context-manipulated photos misleading audiences on large platforms.

Quotes & Reactions

Fans reacted emotionally to the viral posts, with some expressing disappointment once the claims were debunked. One Facebook commenter wrote, “On my calendar… looking forward to it!” before the correction spread.
Another responded, “I can imagine Bruce playing, never hosting,” echoing sentiments from longtime Springsteen followers.

An excerpt from the Google misinformation report noted:

“Image manipulations in the annotated claims were generally simple… The most common type are context manipulations using unmodified images with false claims.”

How the Claim Spread

While this is not a sports event, the spread of misinformation mirrors dynamics commonly seen in real-time sports rumors. The viral posts created momentum based on Springsteen’s long-standing fanbase and his cultural connection to holiday music, especially “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town.”

The widespread attention suggests that major entertainment events remain vulnerable to deceptive posts, influencing public expectations before official announcements can correct the narrative.

What’s Next

NBC will air the official “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” on Dec. 3, with the Rockettes celebrating their 100th anniversary. Bruce Springsteen, meanwhile, continues his touring schedule and charitable commitments.
No additional holiday appearances involving Springsteen have been announced, and NBC reiterated no involvement in the 2025 tree-lighting event.

Sources

• NBC

• Google 2024 Misinformation Report

• Associated Press

• USA Today Network

• On3 (format consistency)

• ESPN (format consistency)