Paramore’s Hayley Williams responds to conspiracy theories about her anti-Trump speech

Like their recent tourmate Taylor Swift did after the debate, Paramore condemned Donald Trump at iHeartRadio Festival set in Las Vegas on Friday (9/20). Hayley Williams, dressed in an outfit inspired by Blondie’s Debbie Harry, paused during “Big Man, Little Dignity,” saying, “Project 2025 is Donald Trump’s playbook for controlling and punishing women, poor people, people of color, and the LGBTQ community. It is time for all Americans to band together and to finally defeat the Trump agenda. And the only way to do that is by confronting him at the polls. Do you want to live in a dictatorship? Well, show up and vote.”

Some people on social media decided Hayley’s speech wasn’t sincere and that she’s a “paid actor;” X-owner and Trump booster Elon Musk shared one such post with the caption, “She was reading from cue cards.” On her Instagram story, Hayley screencapped a post accusing her of “reading a SCRIPT,” asking “was she paid or blackmailed,” and claiming “NONE of this stuff is genuine! These ‘celebrities’ are merely given anti-Trump talking points to spew to their fans. It’s all a big show.” In response, she wrote:

whoever you are, i typed out my speech and had a crew member hold it near the camera for me in case i got nervous bc what i had to say was important and i didn’t want to trip up in the moment. didn’t end up looking at it though… that’s because i prepared.

finally, not only was i *not* paid to make the speech but we (paramore) didn’t get paid to play that radio fest either.

just out here kicking ass for free i guess 🙁

thanks so much for your concern and for spelling my name right, bye!

Previously, Hayley has railed against Florida governor Ron DeSantis onstage, telling the crowd at Atlantic City’s Adjacent Festival in 2023, “I’ll be happy to tell you I’m very fucking comfortable talking politics. If you vote for Ron DeSantis, you’re fucking dead to me. Is that comfortable enough for anyone?”