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Musician Winston Marshall, former banjoist and lead guitarist for Mumford & Sons, made it clear on Saturday that he has retracted the apology he issued when he fell victim to cancel culture two years ago.
What is the background?
In March 2021, Marshall became embroiled in controversy after he praised journalist Andy Ngo's book exposing Antifa as a violent extremist movement.
Because Marshall congratulated Ngo for his "important book," outraged progressives condemned Marshall as a Nazi and a "godd**** fascist." Moreover, alleged fans of Mumford & Sons threatened to stop listening to their music — unless they booted Marshall from the band.
Marshall responded to the controversy by apologizing for his endorsement and the "pain caused by the book."
"As a result of my actions I am taking some time away from the band to examine my blindspots," he said in a statement. "For now, please know that I realize how my endorsements have the potential to be viewed as approvals of hateful, divisive behavior."
What happened now?
HBO host Bill Maher resurrected Marshall's canceling in a monologue on Friday in which he condemned the "woke revolution" and its colonization of the progressive left.
At one point, he invoked Marshall's canceling — and his "cringing apology"
"Pain? From a book? Unless he hit the drummer over the head with it. Whatever happened to, ‘I can read whatever the f*** I want?" Maher said before mocking Marshall, "Don’t worry, I’m a musician. It won’t happen again."
On Saturday, Marshall responded to Maher by noting that he has, in fact, retracted his apology.
"For the record, @billmaher, I retracted the apology and quit the band," Marshall wrote on Twitter.
\u201cFor the record, @billmaher, I retracted the apology and quit the band\u201d— Winston Marshall (@Winston Marshall) 1675506015
Indeed, Marshall told Glenn Beck last year that he regrets ever apologizing in the first place.
"I felt like I was in some way excusing the behavior of Antifa by apologizing for criticizing it. Which then made me feel, well, then I'm as bad as the problem because I'm sort of agreeing that it doesn't exist," Marshall said.
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