Hayley Williams is drawing a line in the sand against bigotry in her fanbase.
The Paramore frontwoman, who is currently on a recently extended solo tour, spoke to Clash magazine about the band’s relationship particularly with Black fans, with Williams finding fulfillment in Paramore being “a part of that conversation” on inclusion.
She said it’s “so important that people feel welcome to the party” – except for fans holding discriminatory views.
“I’ve always said, all are welcome at our shows. But I don’t want racists around, and I don’t want sexist people around, and I don’t want people there who think that trans people are a burden,” Williams, 36, told the outlet. “I think that’s a hard line for me now.”
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She continued: “I hope it naturally happens that people who do harbour those harmful ideologies aren’t going to feel welcome, because they’re going to walk in the door and realise that the gang’s all here, all banded together around something positive.”
The comments come after the “True Believer” singer recently called out country singer Morgan Wallen in the title track of her July solo project “Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party,” calling him a “racist country singer.” Williams was likely referring to Wallen facing backlash in 2021 after a video surfaced of him using a racist slur. The “Ain’t That Some” singer later apologized and asked his fans to stop defending him.
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The project also includes cult hit “True Believer,” an anthem against phony and bigoted Christians, as well as misplaced Southern pride and gentrification of her home state of Tennessee.
“I’ve wanted to write about this for so long, and I’ve never known how to,” she told Clash. “Look, it’s amazing to have Southern pride. It’s a beautiful area of not only the country, but the world. It’s so rich in culture and meaning, but we’re focusing on the wrong thing.”
Contributing: Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Paramore’s Hayley Williams rails against ‘racist’ and ‘sexist’ fans
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