Hayley Williams Declares Racists, Sexists, and Transphobes Are Not Welcome at Shows
Hayley Williams, the frontrunner of Paramore, has taken a stand. She has declared that bigots are not welcome at her concerts, including those who are racist, sexist, and transphobic. In this age of increased paranoia about “wokeism” and more overt bigotry, her statements might be seen as controversial.
Hayley Williams: “All Are Welcome If You Believe All Should Be Welcome”
In an interview with Clash Magazine, Hayley Williams discussed her stance on bigotry. She stated:
“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. I think that’s a hard line for me now. I hope it naturally happens that people who do harbor 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.”
She added, “All are welcome if you believe all should be welcome… If you don’t believe that, you’re not welcome!” Of course, some people might be quick to point out the contradiction, since bigots clearly are not welcome and “all” would by definition include bigots as well, but at the same time, she takes a firm stance against the prejudice that is all too common in today’s world.
“Negative Self Talk”
Williams discussed her song “Negative Self Talk,” which she co-wrote, and how it’s “more feminine than a lot of my other writing.” She discussed how growing up in a male-dominated environment “blunted all the edges of my femininity, and then doubled down on that… so I had to pick it back up. It took until my late 20s, when I stopped being so ashamed of feeling so different from everyone that was around me.”
Indeed, the lyrics of “Negative Self Talk,” which deal with self-doubt and mental health issues, could be a mirror for how any marginalized group feels when the world tells them that they are “others.” The song brings the crushing effect of self-doubt to life, letting people from marginalized groups see what the world does to them.
Hayley Williams: “Music is Community”
In the interview, Williams also stated that “Music is community. Music has always been my mode of travel through the world, and so much of the world – for me – is about community, it’s about how we pool resources, how we band together and work on conversations that matter, and how we uplift each other.”
Her work with Paramore and her songwriting journey reflect how “community” includes everyone, which includes those seen as “others.” Does community also include bigots? Yes, but bigots can also take an honest look at their views. Perhaps Hayley Williams’ music could invite them to put themselves in the place of those they are harming.
