Mumford & Sons guitarist Winston Marshall has come under fire for tweeting his praise for conservative journalist and social media personality Andy Ngo.
Ngo, who has gained notoriety in right-wing circles for reporting on left-wing groups and has associated himself with the far-right group the Proud Boys in the past, released a new book in February called Unmasked. In it, he promised to take readers "inside the Antifa's radical plan to destroy America."
Marshall tweeted to congratulate Ngo and complimented the book. “Finally had the time to read your important book,” he said. “You’re a brave man.”
In the book, Ngo calls the Proud Boys a “pro-Trump fraternity” and he referred to left-wing activists as a “marauding gang” whose mission was to “destroy the nation-state, America in particular.”
In response to the endorsement, a number of social media users expressed dismay at Marshall. One user tweeted: "I knew there was a reason your band's music made me so irrationally angry over the years. It's all the fascism."
I knew there was a reason your band's music made me so irrationally angry over the years. It's all the fascism.
— Flynn 🏔️ (@eightsixonesix) March 6, 2021
Another warned that there was a "long history" of boycotts by music fans:
Just FYI, there’s a long history of music fans boycotting fascist musicians.
— Farrer (they/them) (@farrerstweets) March 6, 2021
One user took a screenshot of the Mumford & Sons Spotify page saying they wouldn't be playing their music anymore:
Guess that's enough of that pic.twitter.com/fOxlKC5p41
— LASER CANNON (@ScrubUnoriginal) March 6, 2021
While another said they felt disappointed and the tweet seemed to "really reinforce all the bad stereotypes" about what it means when you hear 'the sound of banjos'":
This is so damn disappointing and really reinforces all the bad stereotypes about what it means when you hear "the sound of banjos." Supporting fascism ain't a good look.
— Ashton Pittman (@ashtonpittman) March 6, 2021
As of writing, Marshall has yet to comment on the backlash directed at him for his tweet.
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[ Angry, destructive mob raises tough questions for Washington police ]
[ Armed Trump supporters face off with counter-protesters at Oregon rally ]
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