Yahoo Finance Winston Marshall: Opinions split over banjoist’s decision to quit Mumford & Sons after Andy Ngo controversy
Winston Marshall’s decision to quit Mumford & Sons after 14 years has divided opinion on Twitter.
The banjoist left the band this week, following a backlash he received when he tweeted his admiration for a book by controversial right-wing American journalist Andy Ngo in March.
In a lengthy post on Medium, the musician explained that it had been “no easy decision”, as he detailed his time as a founding member of the British folk-rock group.
“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 wrote.
Marshall said that, while he had experienced abuse as a figure in the public eye before, this was “another level”, and was also affecting his friends and bandmates.
Many people have praised Marshall for his “integrity” on Twitter and said his decision to leave the band was “heartbreaking”.
This is heartbreaking but inevitable. @MrWinMarshall is one of the kindest, most genuine people I know.
"He who is not sufficiently courageous to defend his soul, don’t let him be proud of his ‘progressive’ views"
Good to see you taking a stand, Win! 💪https://t.co/05EyYuYhla— Calvin Robinson (@calvinrobinson) June 24, 2021
If you are looking for integrity, look no further. Blown away by this, @MrWinMarshall: https://t.co/QBPqzFwTlz
— Bari Weiss (@bariweiss) June 24, 2021
Winston Marshall on the difficult decision to leave @MumfordAndSons: "I could remain and continue to self-censor but it will erode my sense of integrity. Gnaw my conscience."@MrWinMarshall, your integrity is intact and your honesty is deeply moving. https://t.co/nDzhrsarWU
— Ayaan Hirsi Ali (@Ayaan) June 24, 2021
This is rather sad. This guy has just announced he is leaving Mumford & Sons because he thinks his intellectual honesty will bring more trouble for his bandmates if he continues to express opinions that the Woke Left doesn't like while staying on as a member. https://t.co/KHPowAF31E
— Patrick O'Flynn (@oflynnsocial) June 24, 2021
Others have poked fun at the folk-rock group, saying it’s quite a feat being considered too right-wing in a band that has been mocked over the years for its Conservative-leaning politics. In 2018, Marshall and fellow band members Ben Lovett and Ted Dwayne were photographed in the recording studio with conservative YouTube personality and clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson.
imagine being too right wing to be in mumford and sons
— PolProf Wariotifo (@wariotifo) June 24, 2021
honey the world left mumford & sons in 2014, good luck with the fascism though https://t.co/WLWH4I8oCO
— neal 🇵🇸 (@ne_al_) June 24, 2021
alt-right men trying to make themselves enjoy Mumford and Sons because that one guy read an anti-antifa book pic.twitter.com/9yoT6WhW2A
— sophie (@runwayinchicago) June 24, 2021
Winston Marshall’s statement suggests that he chose standing by Andy Ngo over remaining in Mumford and Sons. If true, that’s quite a choice.
— Dorian Lynskey (@Dorianlynskey) June 24, 2021
Marshall co-founded Mumford & Sons in 2007 with singer Marcus Mumford, Lovett and Dwayne.
They released four albums together, including their 2009 debut Sigh No More, and 2012’s Babel, which won a Grammy for Album of the Year.
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Winston Marshall quits Mumford & Sons after Andy Ngo controversy: ‘It’s been no easy decision’
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