A company not light on their fair share of controversies, hosting The Joe Rogan Experience was never going to make things easier for them. One of the most popular podcasts on the planet, it has Rogan talking to a whole host of names from a variety of perspectives. What’s caused this particular problem is a recent episode with scientist Robert Malone, who helped make mRNA vaccines. Malone made a number of highly disputed claims about the covid-19 vaccine’s efficacy that have caused many complaints from scientific communities.

In response, a number of artists have asked for their music to be removed from the platform, criticising Spotify’s lack of response against Rogan. Highly-influential singer-songwriter Neil Young started the fire so to speak, releasing an open letter that criticised Spotify for hosting platforms that were “spreading false information about the vaccines“. People who have followed suit include similarly acclaimed artists such as Joni Mitchell, the comedian Stewart Lee, and folk-rock trio Crosby, Stills and Nash.

Now, you may be wondering where an ex-member of family-friendly folk group Mumford & Sons comes into all of this. Winston Marshall left the group last summer after they all received backlash online due to a tweet Marshall posted, wherein he praised right-wing author Andy Ngo. Last Thursday, an essay Marshall wrote was published online, entitled “When Artists Become the Censors“.

When artists start censoring each other, who can be surprised that self-censorship becomes the norm? Me for ⁦⁦@bariweiss⁩’ Common Sense https://t.co/aGZ6F9ht3a — Winston Marshall (@MrWinMarshall) February 3, 2022

In the almost 1,500 word essay, Marshall criticises attempts to deplatform certain artists for their views, comparing the situation to the likes of Soviet Russia, but arguing that this time around the power of censorship is in the hands of the artists, not the government. He criticises Young as a hypocrite, noting how his music is still available on Amazon and Apple streaming platforms, companies with their own troubled history in terms of how they treat their workers.

Blaming the situation on a “groupthink“ mentality within the industry itself, Marshall notes other examples where he believes prominent artists have been shamed for going outside the accepted mentality, such as Kanye West’s views on Trump and J.K. Rowling on trans people, saying “Criticism is, of course, fine, but attempts to deplatform have gone too far“.

In the end, he argues that, instead of attempting to deplatform Rogan, Young should have started his own podcast, saying that “More speech rather than less is the classical liberal tradition of getting closer to the truth“.

If you want to read Marshall’s essay in full, it can be found here. Whether you agree with him or not, many people are just glad that Spotify’s time of reckoning finally seems to be nigh, with some even arguing that Young hasn’t criticised the platform enough, what with their notorious history of underpaying artists not being mentioned by his boycott. Either way, we’ll have to wait and see what comes of this, but it seems something’s going to have to change about this controversial company in any case.

The 33-year-old’s departure comes just three months after he described, in a since-deleted Tweet, controversial journalist Andy Ngo’s latest book as “important.” The musician was quickly in the firing line of what he has now described as “libellous” headlines and an onslaught of furious online commentary.

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A post shared by Winston Marshall (@winstonmarshall)

Reminiscing of his “exhilarating” time in the band, the banjo player made the revelation via a Medium post entitled “Why I’m Leaving Mumford & Sons.” He wrote: “At the beginning of March I tweeted to American journalist Andy Ngo, author of the New York Times Bestseller, Unmasked. “Congratulations @MrAndyNgo. Finally had the time to read your important book. You’re a brave man”. Posting about books had been a theme of my social-media throughout the pandemic. I believed this tweet to be as innocuous as the others. How wrong I turned out to be. Over the course of 24 hours it was trending with tens of thousands of angry retweets and comments. I failed to foresee that my commenting on a book critical of the Far-Left could be interpreted as approval of the equally abhorrent Far-Right.”

He continued: “I’ve had plenty of abuse over the years. I’m a banjo player after all. But this was another level. And, owing to our association, my friends, my bandmates, were getting it too. It took me more than a moment to understand how distressing this was for them.”

Citing cancel culture, Churchill and clarifying his controversial actions, the musician concluded that he will continue to speak and write on various challenging issues, as well as working with his non-profit organisation Hong Kong Link Up. “For me to speak about what I’ve learnt to be such a controversial issue will inevitably bring my bandmates more trouble. My love, loyalty and accountability to them cannot permit that. I could remain and continue to self-censor but it will erode my sense of integrity. Gnaw my conscience. I’ve already felt that beginning. The only way forward for me is to leave the band. I hope in distancing myself from them I am able to speak my mind without them suffering the consequences. I leave with love in my heart and I wish those three boys nothing but the best. I have no doubt that their stars will shine long into the future,” he wrote. 

The remaining members of Mumford & Sons, Marcus, Ben and Ted; wrote on Instagram: “We wish you all the best for the future, Win, and we love you man,” alongside a picture of the group posed on the bank of the River Hudson at Pier A Park in Hoboken, New Jersey. Meanwhile, fans have commented on their support and sadness at Marshall’s departure.