Paramore's Hayley Williams Responds to Criticism She Read from 'Script' While Denouncing Donald Trump at Show

Ilana Kaplan
·3-min read

"I typed out my speech and had a crew member hold it near the camera for me in case I got nervous," Williams wrote in an Instagram Story

<p>Kevin Mazur/Getty</p> Hayley Williams of Paramore performs onstage during the iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mobile Arena on Sept. 20, 2024 in Las Vegas

Kevin Mazur/Getty

Hayley Williams of Paramore performs onstage during the iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mobile Arena on Sept. 20, 2024 in Las Vegas

After condemning former President Donald Trump at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Festival, Hayley Williams has responded to criticism that she was reading from a "script" as she made her comments.

On Sunday, Sept. 22, the Paramore bandleader, 35, shared an Instagram Story where a user accused her of "reading a script" and asked if she was "paid or blackmailed" for taking aim at Trump on Friday, Sept. 20 at the Las Vegas music event.

"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," Williams said of .

She added: "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!"

<p>Hayley Williams/Instagram</p> Hayley Williams comments back on Instagram

Hayley Williams/Instagram

Hayley Williams comments back on Instagram

Related: Hayley Williams Says She's 'Thankful' Chappell Roan Spoke Out About Setting Boundaries with Fans: 'It's Brave'

Williams didn't hold back her feelings about the Republican presidential candidate running against Kamala Harris during Paramore's performance on Friday.

“Project 2025 is Donald Trump’s playbook for controlling and punishing women, poor people, people of color, and the LGBTQ+ community,” she said. “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?” the "Decode" artist asked the crowd. “Well, show up and vote.”

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Related: Paramore's Hayley Williams Thinks It's 'So Lame' That Fans Are Involved in 'Stan-War Drama'

Williams has not shied away from sharing her political beliefs in the past.

Last year, the "Misery Business" singer shared a statement on Instagram calling out two anti-LGBTQ+ bills targeting drag performers and gender-affirming care.

“Drag is not a crime. Gender-affirming health care for all, including our youth, is a necessity,” she wrote, per Teen Vogue. "Once again our state has passed two regressive and unfathomably harmful bills. We stand in solidarity with our LGBTQIA+ family and local LGBTQIA+ orgs in this fight, not only for inclusion for our friends & family in the queer community, but for radical acceptance and empowerment for each of them.”

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