Paramore frontwoman Hayley Williams made her stance against Ron DeSantis clear during her performance at the Adjacent Music Festival in Atlantic City, New Jersey. During the show, Williams declared that anyone who votes for the Republican presidential candidate is “dead” to her.
“I’m very comfortable talking politics,” Williams told the crowd. “If you vote for Ron DeSantis, you’re dead to me. Is that comfortable enough for anyone?”
DeSantis is the current Republican Governor who has positioned himself as an “anti-woke” crusader. According to a recent NAACP travel advisory, DeSantis’ political directives have made Florida an unsafe environment for people of colour, LGBTQIA+ communities, those who speak with an accent and international travelers. He officially announced his presidential bid last week.
This isn’t the first time Williams has spoken out about politics. She is an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and earlier this year, she performed a cover of Deana Carter’s ‘Did I Shave My Legs For This?’ at Love Rising, a fundraiser for LGBTQIA+ organisations in her hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. Williams has also spoken out against the state’s drag ban and trans healthcare bill, advocating for inclusion and empowerment of the queer community.
Paramore is currently touring in support of their recent sixth album, ‘This Is Why’, which arrived in February via Atlantic. The record has been praised by music critics for its warmth and triumphant sound.
Williams’ outspoken stance on politics has been a long time coming. She told NME that when they were younger, only certain types of people in pop culture were allowed to speak out. She added that Paramore didn’t fit into either of those categories, even though a lot of her ideals align more on the extremes.
It’s clear that Hayley Williams is passionate about speaking out for the rights of marginalized communities. Her recent performance is a powerful reminder of the importance of using one’s platform to effect positive change.
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