The banjoist and lead guitarist for the popular group Mumford & Sons has apologized on Twitter after members of the band asked him to leave.
His crime? Endorsing a book by conservative journalist and author, Andy Ngo.
Winston Marshall of Mumford & Sons sparked outrage on Sunday when he tweeted in support of Ngo and his new book, “Unmasked: Inside Antifa’s Radical Plan to Destroy Democracy.”
In the tweet, which has since been deleted, Marshall wrote, “Finally had the time to read your important book. You’re a brave man.”
Marshall’s endorsement of the brave investigative journalist, who has exposed the violent radical left, drew serious pushback online including accusations that he was “endorsing fascism.”
Now, Marshall has tweeted an apology, saying he was “truly sorry” for his actions and how they had the “potential to be viewed as approvals of hateful, divisive behavior.”
Marshall also announced he is “taking time away from the band to examine [his] blind spots.”
— Winston Marshall (@MrWinMarshall) March 10, 2021
But that may not be enough, as band members have asked him to leave, according to The Sun:
Winston’s staunchly right wing political views have been causing tension for some time now within the band.
There has been a rift forming for the past four years with some people even going as far to say he has been ‘radicalized’…his tweet on Sunday was the final straw and they said they couldn’t put up with it any longer because it massively impacts the band’s image.
“It has been hugely difficult but that was the decision they had to make,” a source close to the band told The Sun.
Ngo rose to prominence for his coverage of Antifa and violent protests.
He reported suffering brain damage in July of 2019 after being attacked during demonstrations in Portland.
Ngo responded to the controversy on Twitter.
“Who will have the guts to say, it is OK to disagree with me, even vehemently, but it is not OK to bully people into compliance,” he said. “In America, we all have to live together. What is the left’s plan when 40% of the country won’t play their game? I grieve for those who are made to suffer because they dare to read my work, or talk to me.”
This isn’t Mumford & Sons’ first run-in with political pushback.
In 2018, Marshall and fellow band members Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane came under fire after a photograph emerged of the three musicians with professor and author Jordan Peterson, another popular but controversial figure.
