Why Rolling Stone is TERRIFIED of Oliver Anthony: Former Mumford & Sons banjoist weighs in



If you spent any time on social media in the past week, then you probably scrolled by a video that has clearly captured the heart of America.

Country musician Oliver Anthony went from unknown to the top of the iTunes charts after his song, “Rich Men North of Richmond,” went viral overnight.

The song features lyrics like “Lord, we got folks in the street, ain’t got nothing to eat/And the obese milking welfare,” and “Well God, if you’re 5-foot-3 and you’re 300 pounds/Taxes ought not to pay for your bags of fudge rounds.”

Anthony also seems to hint at his disgust regarding Epstein and his associates with the line, “I wish politicians would look out for miners/And not just minors on an island somewhere.”

However, while the working class celebrated Anthony's truth-telling, the journalists got to work.

They attempted to paint Anthony as right-wing, despite the fact that he identifies as center and believes both sides have been ruined by corruption.

Winston Marshall, the former banjoist from Mumford & Sons, spoke to Glenn Beck about Anthony and his overnight success.

“The story of Oliver Anthony is absolutely wonderful. This is a kid, factory worker from Appalachian America, and he has currently got four songs in the top ten. Ten songs in the Top 25 iTunes chart, and all three of the top three.”

“This is a huge moment. These songs have been recorded on his phone. Just his beautiful voice and a guitar. It’s so authentic and it’s so real, and this blend is the counterculture that we’ve been looking for,” Marshall tells Glenn.

However, Marshall is much more excited than the journalists who are now trying to tear Anthony down.

“Instead of sharing in this excitement of a truly countercultural moment,” Marshall says that Rolling Stone and other outlets like it “look at who’s enjoying this music and they denigrate it accordingly.”


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Canceled Mumford & Sons banjo player lets Bill Maher know how he responded to outrage mob: 'I retracted the apology'



Musician Winston Marshall, former banjoist and lead guitarist for Mumford & Sons, made it clear on Saturday that he has retracted the apology he issued when he fell victim to cancel culture two years ago.

What is the background?

In March 2021, Marshall became embroiled in controversy after he praised journalist Andy Ngo's book exposing Antifa as a violent extremist movement.

Because Marshall congratulated Ngo for his "important book," outraged progressives condemned Marshall as a Nazi and a "godd**** fascist." Moreover, alleged fans of Mumford & Sons threatened to stop listening to their music — unless they booted Marshall from the band.

Marshall responded to the controversy by apologizing for his endorsement and the "pain caused by the book."

"As a result of my actions I am taking some time away from the band to examine my blindspots," he said in a statement. "For now, please know that I realize how my endorsements have the potential to be viewed as approvals of hateful, divisive behavior."

What happened now?

HBO host Bill Maher resurrected Marshall's canceling in a monologue on Friday in which he condemned the "woke revolution" and its colonization of the progressive left.

At one point, he invoked Marshall's canceling — and his "cringing apology"

"Pain? From a book? Unless he hit the drummer over the head with it. Whatever happened to, ‘I can read whatever the f*** I want?" Maher said before mocking Marshall, "Don’t worry, I’m a musician. It won’t happen again."

On Saturday, Marshall responded to Maher by noting that he has, in fact, retracted his apology.

"For the record, @billmaher, I retracted the apology and quit the band," Marshall wrote on Twitter.

\u201cFor the record, @billmaher, I retracted the apology and quit the band\u201d
— Winston Marshall (@Winston Marshall) 1675506015

Indeed, Marshall told Glenn Beck last year that he regrets ever apologizing in the first place.

"I felt like I was in some way excusing the behavior of Antifa by apologizing for criticizing it. Which then made me feel, well, then I'm as bad as the problem because I'm sort of agreeing that it doesn't exist," Marshall said.

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Why Mumford & Sons co-founder Winston Marshall REGRETS apologizing to the WOKE MOB



Winston Marshall assumed that he would be playing banjo with Mumford & Sons well into his 60s, but one tweet — simply recommending Andy Ngo's book — was all it took for the woke mob to attack. At first, Winston apologized, saying he "was certainly open to not understanding the full picture." But after doing some research, not to mention a whole lot of soul-searching, his conscience "really started to bother" him.

On the latest episode of "The Glenn Beck Podcast," Winston opened up about the entire scandal, what he discovered in the wake of his cancellation, and why he's decided to put truth over career.

"I looked deeper and deeper into the topic, and I realized I hadn't I hadn't been wrong [when] I'd called the author brave," Winston said of Ngo. "Not only was he brave, he'd been attacked by Antifa mobs in Oregon, and he was then attacked again ... he's unquestionably brave. And so my conscience really started to bother me ... I felt like I was in some way excusing the behavior of Antifa by apologizing for criticizing it. Which then made me feel, well, then I'm as bad as the problem because I'm sort of agreeing that it doesn't exist," he added.

"Another point, by the way, that I found it very frustrating, was that that left-wing media in this country and in my country don't even talk about [Antifa]. We can all see this footage. We see it online," Winston continued. "But they don't talk about it, and that's part of my, I think, interest initially in tweeting about Andy's book. Because I think people need to see what's going on, and it's a blind spot there. ... CNN and MSNBC, they don't cover it. Biden in his presidential election said it was just 'an idea' that didn't exist. I mean, did he not see the courthouse in Oregon being burnt down?"

Watch the video clip below or find the full podcast with Winston Marshall here.



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Mumford & Sons co-founder says God gave him courage to leave the band after the left attacked him for praising conservative reporter’s book



Winston Marshall, Mumford & Sons co-founder, said that leaning into Christianity gave him the courage to leave the band.

Marshall announced in June that he was quitting the band in order to "speak freely" on political issues, revealing that if he were to remain with the band and "continue to self-censor," it would "erode" his integrity.

He took a hiatus from the band in March after intense backlash ensued following his praise for conservative journalist Andy Ngo's book, "Unmasked," apologizing for the apparently controversial remarks, and announcing he'd be taking time away to refocus.

What are the details?

In a new interview with former New York Times opinion writer Bari Weiss, Marshall said that God helped him grow strong enough to pull away from the band.

“I was talking a lot to my mom and dad with whom I'm very close and I think who love me and understand me better than anyone and could understand the complexity of the situation," Marshall said during the sit-down. “I was praying a hell of a lot."

Marshall added that he spent an increasing amount of time at a Catholic church near London, which prompted him to stand firm in his convictions.

“My faith has played a big part in this period of my life, and actually the week before making the final decision [to leave the band], I was pretty much planted in my local Catholic church around the corner from the house," he said. “It's a bloody big moment for me. That's probably why after a while, the apology was bothering me like it did, particularly that I'd felt like I'd been participating in that lie that we already talked about. I couldn't square those things in my conscience."

Marshall also jokingly pointed to rapper Kanye West and his own personal faith, and said, "Well, if I can quote the great American theologian of all time, Kanye West, he said, 'Fear God and you will fear nothing else.' And I love that because for me, I do fear God. And I think it's true. That if you fear God sincerely, then you won't fear worldly issues, worldly problems."

He added, “We're all fallen and recognizing that we make mistakes, bring back a bit of grace and good faith."

'The View' co-host takes a stand against 'dangerous,' 'disheartening' cancel culture — and it wasn't Meghan McCain



A co-host of "The View" besides Meghan McCain actually took a strong stand against the leftist blight of cancel culture.

What did she say?

One of the subjects of Monday's episode was last week's announcement that Winston Marshall, co-founder of alt-folk outfit Mumford & Sons, quit the group so he be could be free to speak his mind politically without putting the band's popularity in jeopardy.

Co-host Joy Behar put the question to the other co-hosts: Was this the right move for Marshall to make?

Fellow co-host Sara Haines was first up and decried the fact that cancel culture has brought us to this point as a society.

Speaking about a tweet from Marshall — the banjo player gave kudos to journalist Andy Ngo in regard to the conservative author's controversial book about Antifa and called him a "brave man" — Haines said the post was "so benign."

She also appeared to be reading from Marshall's essay on Medium in which he explained his departure from Mumford & Sons and the criticism he received leading up to it: "Being labeled erroneously just goes to show how binary political discourse has become. I had criticized the 'Left', so I must be on the 'Right' ..."

Haines then ripped into cancel culture:

"I just think this is such a dangerous time when you say one thing — 'you're a brave man' — and now you must endorse his entire book, everything he believes, his family, everything he said. Like, we cannot even pose for pictures, act civilly toward one another. We talk about the divide in this country, the problem with racism, the lack of empathy — we're not gonna get closer to each other if we continue to wield this and weaponize it. It was really sad to see that this is where it had to go. This guy didn't the write the book; he tweeted about the book! And now are we gonna decide that anyone that poses for a picture with Winston Marshall from Mumford & Sons should also not be followed or anything else? Like, where does it end? I think it's very disheartening."

As for McCain, she noted that she respects Marshall for giving up his fame and income so that he can have "intellectual and political integrity."

Here's the clip:

Mumford & Sons Member Exits Band | The Viewyoutu.be

Mumford & Sons co-founder quits band to ‘speak freely’ on political issues



Mumford & Sons co-founder Winston Marshall has announced that he is leaving the award-winning band to "speak freely" about political issues, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

What's a brief history here?

Marshall initially took a hiatus from the band in March after critics slammed him for his congratulating journalist Andy Ngo on his recently released book, "Unmasked," which he called "courageous."

The book, according to Ngo, intended to take the reader "inside ANTIFA's radical plan to destroy democracy."

In his initial announcement, Marshall tweeted, "Over the past few days I have come to better understand the pain caused by the book I endorsed. I have offended not only a lot of people I don't know, but also those closest to me, including my bandmates and for that I am truly sorry. As a result of my actions I am taking some time away from the band to examine my blindspots.

"For now," he concluded, "please know that I realize how my endorsements have the potential to be viewed as approval of hateful, divisive behavior. I apologize, as this was not at all my intention."

In 2018, the band also faced criticism after having invited author and clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson to visit their London-based studios. A photo of Peterson and the band quickly went viral, sparking anger across the social media landscape.

Following the controversy, Marshall responded, "I don't think that having a photograph with someone means you agree with everything they say. Primarily I'm interested in his psychological stuff, which I find very interesting."

What's happening now?

In a Thursday blog post on Medium titled "Why I'm Leaving Mumford & Sons," Marshall wrote, "At the beginning of March I tweeted to American journalist Andy Ngo, author of the New York Times Bestseller, Unmasked. 'Congratulations @MrAndyNgo. Finally had the time to read your important book. You're a brave man.' Posting about books had been a theme of my social-media throughout the pandemic. I believed this tweet to be as innocuous as the others. How wrong I turned out to be."

Marshall added that his remarks were met with a flurry of hostilities.

"I failed to foresee that my commenting on a book critical of the Far-Left could be interpreted as approval of the equally abhorrent Far-Right," he admitted. "Nothing could be further from the truth. Thirteen members of my family were murdered in the concentration camps of the Holocaust. My Grandma, unlike her cousins, aunts and uncles, survived. She and I were close. My family knows the evils of fascism painfully well. To say the least. To call me 'fascist' was ludicrous beyond belief."

He noted that he and the band suffered abuse as a result of the tweet on "another level."

Marshall recalled that after he apologized for offending people, a second wave of criticism overwhelmed him and the rest of the band even after he announced he'd be taking a break.

"Rather predictably another viral mob came after me, this time for the sin of apologizing," he wrote. "Then followed libelous articles calling me 'right-wing' and such. Though there's nothing wrong with being conservative, when forced to politically label myself I flutter between 'centrist,' 'liberal' or the more honest 'bit this, bit that.' Being labeled erroneously just goes to show how binary political discourse has become. I had criticized the 'Left', so I must be the 'Right,' or so their logic goes."

Marshall said that he decided to apologize in part because he was "desperate to protect" his bandmates — and in part because he perhaps "did not know something about the author or his work."

"'Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak,' Churchill once said, 'courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen,'" he added. "And so I listened."

"I have spent much time reflecting, reading and listening," he added. "The truth is that my commenting on a book that documents the extreme Far-Left and their activities is in no way an endorsement of the equally repugnant Far-Right. The truth is that reporting on extremism at the great risk of endangering oneself is unquestionably brave. I also feel that my previous apology in a small way participates in the lie that such extremism does not exist, or worse, is a force for good."

Citing Russian novelist and existentialist Alexander Solzhenitsyn — a favorite of renowned author and psychologist Jordan Peterson — Marshall wrote, "On the eve of leaving to the West, Solzhenitsyn published an essay titled 'Live Not By Lies.' I have read it many times now since the incident at the start of March. It still profoundly stirs me."

"'And he who is not sufficiently courageous to defend his soul — don't let him be proud of his 'progressive' views, and don't let him boast that he is an academician or a people's artist, a distinguished figure or a general. Let him say to himself: I am a part of the herd and a coward. It's all the same to me as long as I'm fed and kept warm."

Marshall said that it remains apparent to him that if he were to continue speaking out about "such a controversial issue" will only bring more trouble to the band as a whole.

"My love, loyalty and accountability to them cannot permit that," he added. "I could remain and continue to self-censor but it will erode my sense of integrity. Gnaw my conscience. I've already felt that beginning."

He concluded, "The only way forward for me is to leave the band. I hope in distancing myself from them I am able to speak my mind without them suffering the consequences."

Andy Ngo speaks out on Mumford & Sons musician's 'break': 'If you challenge the reigning orthodoxy, you will be made to suffer'



Journalist Andy Ngo has hit out at critics who ultimately prompted Mumford & Sons banjoist and lead guitarist Winston Marshall to take a break from the Grammy award-winning band.

Marshall announced this week that he was going on hiatus after critics blasted him for supporting Ngo's new book, "Unmasked."

Of the book, Ngo has said its intention is to take its reader "inside ANTIFA's radical plan to destroy democracy."

What are the details?

According to a Thursday report from the Post Millennial, Ngo appeared on Fox News to discuss the fallout from Marshall supporting his book and how it ties into the book's message.

During his appearance, Ngo said, "I know this is being covered a lot as the latest example of cancel culture, but I don't think that term fully encapsulates what's going on. We're dealing with a phenomenon of people who have powerful ties, who are working to systematically close minds and to silence voices. And they're doing this entirely without throwing a punch, without any legislative change.

"That's what makes it quite shocking, and subtle and insidious," he insisted. "I write in my book about how much of what Antifa does is entirely non-violent, but it doesn't make it not dangerous."

Ngo also noted that Marshall has been unfairly forced to suffer "very severe consequences" for what he said was a harmless tweet about liking a book.

"I think all of these campaigns work to undermine American norms, and to undermine civil society," he explained. "This musician has been made to suffer very severe consequences for a pretty innocuous tweet about enjoying my book, apparently. And I think the message is very clear: If you challenge the reigning orthodoxy, you will be made to suffer. And particularly, if you're in a vulnerable profession, such as entertainment or culture, you will stand to lose, potentially, everything."

Ngo on Thursday morning tweeted a clip from his appearance, writing, "Last weekend, Winston Marshall, a musician in Mumford & Sons, expressed support for my book, 'Umasked,' in a 15-word tweet. 72 hours later, he had to issue an apology & announced he's taking time away from the band. I went on @FoxNews to give my response."

Last weekend, Winston Marshall, a musician in Mumford & Sons, expressed support for my book, "Unmasked," in a 15-wo… https://t.co/CLvQGC6oot
— Andy Ngô (@Andy Ngô)1615477787.0

Mumford & Sons banjoist Winston Marshall 'taking time away' from the band after praising Andy Ngo's book



Winston Marshall, the banjoist and lead guitarist for Mumford & Sons, announced on Twitter that he's "taking time away" from the Grammy award-winning band in order to "examine" his "blindspots" after congratulating journalist Andy Ngo on his new book, "Unmasked."

Social media came out in full force against Marshall after his remarks to Ngo, with many people suggesting the musician should be canceled for being a "Nazi."

What are the details?

Marshall tweeted Tuesday night that he is taking a break from the band.

He wrote, "Over the past few days I have come to better understand the pain caused by the book I endorsed. I have offended not only a lot of people I don't know, but also those closest to me, including my bandmates and for that I am truly sorry. As a result of my actions I am taking some time away from the band to examine my blindspots."

"For now, please know that I realize how my endorsements have the potential to be viewed as approvals of hateful, divisive behavior," the tweet added. "I apologize, as this was not at all my intention."

https://t.co/x9yddYc0g9
— Winston Marshall (@Winston Marshall)1615344824.0

In a since-deleted tweet, Marshall praised Ngo for what he said was a courageous book. Ngo said the book's intent was to take its reader "inside ANTIFA's radical plan to destroy democracy."

"Finally had the time to read your important book," Marshall wrote at the time. "You're a brave man."

He deleted the tweet, according to the outlet, after being subject to backlash and "intense mockery" of the band.

What else?

The band took flak in 2018 after inviting author and clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson to visit their London-based studios. A photo of Peterson and the band quickly went viral, sparking anger from across the far reaches of social media.

At the time, Marshall responded, "I don't think that having a photograph with someone means you agree with everything they say. Primarily I'm interested in his psychological stuff, which I find very interesting."

Online mob attacks Mumford & Sons banjoist for congratulating Andy Ngo, label musician a 'Nazi' in attempt to cancel him



Winston Marshall, the banjoist and lead guitarist for the folk-rock band Mumford & Sons, experienced a tidal wave of criticism and hatred for simply complimenting conservative journalist Andy Ngo on his new book. Waves of furious music fans attacked Marshall on Twitter for an innocuous tweet.

On Saturday, Marshall congratulated Ngo on his new book "Unmasked: Inside Antifa's Radical Plan to Destroy Democracy."

"Congratulations @MrAndyNgo. Finally had to time read your important book. You're a brave man," Marshall wrote on Twitter, which he later deleted after he was swarmed with hateful messages.

Ngo thanked Marshall for the support.

@MrWinMarshall Thank you so much.
— Andy Ngô (@Andy Ngô) 1615049324.0

Ngo has gained notoriety and animosity for his coverage of Antifa over the years. Ngo was brutally attacked in 2019 by a group of Antifa members, and was admitted to the hospital as a result of a brain bleed. In January, Ngo revealed that he had to move out of the United States because of constant death threats from Antifa.

When leftists saw that Marshall was complimenting the journalist who has exposed Antifa violence for years, the online hate mob viciously attacked the musician on social media for having a difference of political opinion.

One commenter told Marshall, who is British, to "get your head out of your a**," and said Ngo is a "well documented liar and propagandist."

Fellow musician Portugal the Man called Marshall a "f****** dweeb."

There were hundreds of replies that called Marshall and Ngo "fascists."

Another person wrote, "'Banjo player from Mumford & Sons promotes pro-fascism book' is a hell of a way to start my Sunday."

A commenter stated, "Wow, this is really f****** depressing finding out the banjo dude from Mumford & Sons is a godd**** fascist."

One Twitter user added, "A dumbfounding endorsement of fascism. Shame, I really liked that one song a while ago."

Someone said, "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."

Dozens of Twitter users called Marshall a "Nazi."

One tweet stated, "Banjo dude from Mumford exposed as a nazi s***bag? Didn't have this on my bingo card."

An alleged former Gawker writer said, "Piece of sh** creep."

Leftists posted comments on Mumford & Sons' official Twitter account.

One individual concocted this far-fetched correlation, "The banjo was invented by enslaved Africans in the Caribbean then made popular to white people through their racist minstrel shows... does your facist banjo player kno he's part of that history?"

Alleged fans of the band attempted to use cancel culture to force Mumford & Sons to fire Marshall.

Someone wrote on the band's Instagram page, "Unless you kick @winstonmarshall out of the band, I'm done with ya'll."

Another alleged supporter of the band threatened, "Your banjo player is a fascist. What do you think this is going to do to you public image? You guys screwed up. Fire the fascist."

One person stated, "Mumford and sons is about to see a lot of lost revenue bc of Winston's insane right-wing conspiracy views. Americans don't want to hear the views of a uneducated conspiracy theorist and we won't support it."

There were a few people defending Marshall and Ngo on Twitter.

Townhall columnist Scott Morefield explained, "The left hates @MrAndyNgo because he dares to call out those who engage in left-wing violence. Now they're trying to cancel @MrWinMarshall and Mumford & Sons because he dared to praise Ngo's book. The message? Leftist violence is always justified and should never be questioned."

Comedian Konstantin Kisin noted, "Congratulations to @MrWinMarshall for showing us, once again, that the people who claim to be 'tolerant', 'kind' and 'open-minded' are the most illiberal, hateful and intolerant around. I'll be going to as many of his concerts as possible."

One user wrote, "Liberals abusing Mumford & Sons' @MrWinMarshall for reading a book written by a gay man of colour (@MrAndyNgo) Incredible."

Another tweet read, "Mumford & Sons lead singer tweets praise of a book written by a gay Asian man. The left calls the lead singer a Nazi. It's almost like they don't even know what the term means."