In an Instagram story, Hayley Williams responded to ‘blackmail’ accusations regarding Paramore’s recent iHeartRadio performance.
A tweet claimed, “Remember the video of Paramore’s Hayley Williams bashing Trump and spewing lies about ‘Project 2025’ on stage? Turns out she was reading a SCRIPT. Was she paid or blackmailed? NONE of this is genuine! Celebrities are just given anti-Trump talking points to repeat to their fans.”
Williams fired back, explaining, “Whoever you are, I typed out my speech and had a crew member hold it by the camera in case I got nervous because what I had to say was important, and I didn’t want to mess up in the moment.” She added, “I didn’t even end up looking at it.”
She clarified further, “Not only was I not paid to give the speech, but we (Paramore) didn’t get paid for playing that radio fest either. Just out here kicking a** for free, I guess. Thanks for your concern, and for spelling my name right, bye!”
Williams had recently spoken out against Donald Trump at the iHeartRadio Music Festival, where Paramore performed five songs at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on September 20. During the song ‘Big Man, Little Dignity,’ she said, “Project 2025 is Donald Trump’s playbook for controlling and punishing women, poor people, people of color, and the LGBTQ community.”
She urged Americans to come together to defeat the Trump agenda by voting, saying, “Do you want to live in a dictatorship? Show up and vote.”
At the festival, Williams dressed as Debbie Harry, and Paramore included a part of ‘Heart of Glass’ during their performance of ‘Hard Times.’ They also played ‘The Only Exception,’ ‘Ain’t It Fun,’ and a cover of ‘Burning Down the House.’
