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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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."
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