Hayley Williams Expresses Her Stance on Racism, Sexism, and Transphobia at Her Concerts
Hayley Williams in New York City in November 2022.
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Hayley Williams Advocates for Inclusivity in Concerts Ahead of Solo Tour
In a recent interview with Clash magazine, Hayley Williams, the frontwoman of Paramore, emphasized her commitment to inclusivity at her upcoming concerts. Williams, who is preparing for her first solo tour to promote her new album, Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party, stated that she wants all attendees to feel welcome.
“I’ve just always felt very grateful that our band can be a part of that conversation. It’s so important that people feel welcome to the party,” Williams, 36, conveyed. She continued, “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.”
The singer articulated a clear stance on audience expectations: “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 realize 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!”
From left: Taylor York, Hayley Williams and Zac Farro of Paramore in New York City in August 2017.
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Williams has a history of advocating for marginalized communities. In 2023, she publicly challenged two bills in Tennessee that threatened the LGBTQ+ community. At the iHeartRadio Music Festival in September 2024, she addressed the controversial Project 2025, initiated by supporters of President Donald Trump, which targets various social issues, including reproductive rights and immigration.
The upcoming album has received critical acclaim, earning Williams four Grammy nominations, including Best Alternative Music Album. It reflects her journey and the struggles she faced growing up in a Southern Christian community marked by racial tensions.
“I’m never not ready to scream at the top of my lungs about racial issues,” Williams stated during a recent episode of the New York Times’ Popcast podcast. “I think because it’s so intersectional that it overlaps with everything from climate change to LGBTQIA+ issues.”
Hayley Williams performing in Hamburg in July 2024.
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Reflecting on her artistry, Williams described her latest work as a return to her musical roots. “This entire experience has been an exercise of holding a lot of truth. It’s like a brick to the face, you know, and this album was my way of moving through it,” she remarked.
Williams’ solo tour is scheduled to begin on March 27, 2026, in Atlanta and will conclude on May 15, 2026, in Los Angeles.
