The musician had previously taken a break from Mumford & Sons back in March when he tweeted praise for “Unmasked,” a book by Andy Ngo, a right-wing writer-activist, that attacked far-left militant groups collectively known as antifa.
Marshall, who plays guitar and banjo, said that the other band members wanted to continue with him. However, he opted to leave in order to “speak freely without them suffering the consequences.”
For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below.
Marshall was accused online of endorsing the far right, but said Thursday that “nothing could be further from the truth. I condemn unequivocally all political extremism, be it of the Right or Left.”
He said that “as long as I am a member of the band, speaking my mind on the evils of political extremism could bring them trouble. My loyalty and love for them cannot permit that.”
Marshall said he plans to undertake new creative projects, “as well as speaking and writing on a variety of issues.”
Earlier this year Marshall co-founded Hong Kong Link Up, a charity that works to integrate Hong Kongers settling in Britain because of increasing political repression in the semi-autonomous Chinese city state.
Formed in London in 2007, Mumford & Sons have had huge success with their jangly folk-rock and won the album of the year Grammy for their 2012 record “Babel.”
“We wish you all the best for the future, Win, and we love you man,” the three other band members — Marcus Mumford, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane — wrote on Instagram in response to the announcement.
