Singer Hayley Williams, the renowned frontwoman of the band Paramore, is delivering an unequivocal message to potential attendees of her forthcoming solo tour: individuals who hold bigoted views are explicitly not welcome at her concerts.
A Clear Stance on Inclusivity
The 36-year-old artist, who is preparing to tour in support of her solo album Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party, has long championed inclusivity. However, in a recent interview with Clash magazine, she firmly delineated the boundaries of her welcoming philosophy.
"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. I've always said, all are welcome at our shows," Williams stated. She then clarified, "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. I think that's a hard line for me now."
Williams expressed hope that the atmosphere at her events would naturally deter those with harmful ideologies. "All are welcome if you believe all should be welcome … If you don't believe that, you're not welcome!" she asserted.
A History of Advocacy and Specific Call-Outs
This declaration is consistent with Williams's history of activism. She is no stranger to using her platform to speak out against injustice. In 2023, she publicly criticized two bills in her home state of Tennessee that targeted the LGBTQ+ community. The following year, during a Paramore performance at the iHeartRadio Music Festival, she denounced the Project 2025 initiative for its threats to reproductive rights, immigration, and diversity programs.
Her new album, which has earned her four Grammy nominations, delves into themes of her Southern Christian upbringing and regional racial tensions. "I'm never not ready to scream at the top of my lungs about racial issues," she told the New York Times' Popcast podcast, noting how racism intersects with other critical issues like climate change and LGBTQIA+ rights.
In that same interview, Williams confirmed a pointed reference in her album's title track. The "racist country singer" she sings about is, unequivocally, Morgan Wallen. "It could be a couple, but I'm always talking about Morgan Wallen, I don't give a s***," she told host Jon Caramanica. She has also previously criticized Wallen's Nashville bar, calling it her least favourite musician-owned establishment in the city.
Tour Details and Toronto Stop
Hayley Williams's solo tour is scheduled to commence on March 27, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia, and will conclude on May 15 in Los Angeles, California.
For Canadian fans, Toronto is the second stop on the itinerary. Williams will perform two nights at the historic Massey Hall on March 31 and April 1, 2025. These concerts are anticipated to embody the message of unity and positive community that the singer is passionately advocating for, ensuring a safe and welcoming space for all attendees who share those values.
