Hayley Williams Declares Racist and Anti-Trans Fans Unwelcome on Her Tour

Hayley Williams is drawing a firm line ahead of her 2026 solo tour, making it clear that her performances will be intentionally welcoming spaces — and that attendees who hold discriminatory beliefs should not expect to feel comfortable there.

In a recent interview with Clash, Williams said she wants concerts to be a place where every fan can “feel welcome to the party.” She also emphasized that commitment requires being explicit about who she does not want in the room.

“I don’t want racists around, and I don’t want sexist people around, and I don’t want people there who think that trans people are a burden,” Williams said. “I think that’s a hard line for me now.”

Williams added that she hopes those who hold exclusionary views will enter the venue and recognize that “the gang’s all here, all banded together around something positive.” Her stance was direct and unambiguous: “All are welcome if you believe all should be welcome… If you don’t believe that, you’re not welcome.”

The tour supports her latest solo album, Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party. The North American leg opens March 28 in Atlanta and includes stops in Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Nashville, Austin, Oakland, Los Angeles and other cities, before Williams takes the run to the U.K. and Europe in June 2026.

Williams has consistently used her platform to speak out for equality, particularly in her home state of Tennessee. Last year she declined an official state honor and publicly criticized the state’s Republican leadership, denouncing what she called “blatant racism” and urging young people to vote with equality in mind.

She has also been candid about sexism she’s encountered during her career. In 2022 she explained she often avoided playing guitar onstage to sidestep derisive commentary, and in 2023 she publicly responded to online backlash after postponing Paramore shows due to illness — calling out abusive behavior from some corners of the internet and defending the decision.

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