What do Celebrities Owe Us? Let’s Talk Chappell Roan

To those who aspire to be famous, having crowds of adoring fans, packed venues, and people on the street asking for photos seem like the ultimate dream. Yet Chappell Roan, a newly anointed pop star, dislikes the attention. She has canceled numerous shows, rebuked fans for coming up to her in public, and engaged in several altercations on social media. This has made fans question: why did she even want to be famous anyway?

Roan answers this question: “They think I’m complaining about my success. I’m complaining about being abused.” She turns the topic away from her actions and towards her fans, calling out their toxic behavior. Notably, in August 2024, Roan released two TikToks addressing the issue, speaking angrily: “If you saw a random woman on the street, would you yell at her from your car window? Would you harass her in public? Would you go up to a random lady and say, ‘Can I take a photo with you?’ and she says ‘No, what the —-?’ and then you get mad at this random lady?” 

Again, in a podcast this time, Roan expresses her thoughts on her fame: “This is the time when a few years ago when I said that if [there were] stalker vibes or my family was in danger, I would quit. And we’re there. We’re there!” It is clear that she prioritizes family and health before fame, something which most celebrities have not done. Some even rise to fame by exploiting their family. Take the Kardashians for example: Kris Jenner shoved her kids into the eyes of the media through the TV series Keeping Up with the Kardashians, removing all sense of privacy in their lives. No other pop star has asked as clearly as Roan has for a clear line of boundaries. As a society, we feel entitled to every aspect of their lives. Just pick up a People magazine, and you can find everything from what kind of house they live in to what they eat every day. Roan says no to all this. She has asked fans not to approach her in public when she is not “working.” She treats fame as a job; she feels that being a singer is a career like any other, and that once her work is done, she should be able to go back to living a normal life. In another TikTok, Roan tells her fans that just because someone may be showing admiration towards her, this does not entitle them to a “mutual exchange” of time or energy: “I don’t give a —- if you think it’s selfish of me to say no for a photo or for your time or for a hug. That’s not normal! That’s weird!” It seems Roan is making an enormous effort to keep her personal and work life separate. But is this possible when your job is to be famous?

This fame was not something forced upon her. Her “overnight” rise to popularity was the result of a decade of hard work and perseverance. She had been chasing this since middle school, releasing her first EP when she was just 16. In 2017, at the age of 17, Roan signed with Atlantic Records, and moved to LA to pursue a professional music career. In the years following she began to support artists such as Vance Joy and Declan McKenna on tours. However due to the COVID-19 pandemic and her lack of profit, Atlantic Records dropped her in 2020, forcing Roan to move back home to Missouri to live with her parents. But she was adamant on pursuing her music career, knowing that she could still make something of her talent. She moved back to LA and took a job at a doughnut shop to continue to develop her music independently. This time around, her career took off, gaining a large following on Tiktok. She began touring for popular artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, and in early 2023, Roan began her own tour, Naked in North America. She supported local drag artists by having them open for her, and she established her renowned drag queen persona. Her debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess in September 2023 is what caused her rise in mainstream media. With features in Rolling Stone, Billboard, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, she ended up being invited to Coachella in April 2024, dressed in her iconic bright pink butterfly costume. It’s evident that fame is something Roan once chased and adored, yet now she no longer wants it. 

Her struggles with mental health may explain her behavior and complex relationship with fans. Roan has been open about this topic, revealing she grew up with undiagnosed Bipolar II disorder and was recently diagnosed with severe depression. Her life has been turned completely upside down, and she is certainly not adapting to it well. It has begun to impact her professionalism and image: Roan canceled her appearance at the All Things Goes Music Festival in late September this year, saying she needed time to prioritize her health. Though all her fans understand Roan is fighting her own internal battle, many were still disappointed and even angry. Numerous fans had driven over eight hours just to see Roan perform, dressing in elaborate costumes and extravagant makeup which fit the Chappell Roan concert vibe. This is not the first time this has happened either. In August of this year, she canceled several concerts in Paris and Amsterdam due to “scheduling conflicts.” Fans had spent thousands on plane tickets, hotel bookings, and outfits, planning for the concert months in advance. It’s easy to see why people do not think she is suited for fame.

Her confrontational personality has also been a point of controversy. She went viral for clapping back at a photographer shouting at her on the VMA red carpet, yelling “No, you shut the —- up.” Another incident was when Billboard, a magazine dedicated to reporting music news, posted on their Instagram that Roan had split up with her management team, to which Roan responded with a comment “Yall suck for this.” Her reaction spurred mixed reactions among her fans. Many fans believed she overreacted, one post on X saying “I usually support Chappell, but Billboard is simply doing their job by reporting on music business news. This isn’t some major invasion of privacy. She needs to relax.” 

Chappell Roan is a prime example of how far pop culture has come and removed us from reality. In no world should it be okay to harass or stalk a person, no matter how famous they may be. But what does fame include? It is expected of a celebrity to be constantly asked for photos or autographs, a sign that they are adored by fans. It could be argued that there is a social contract between celebrities and normal people: celebrities continue producing their work and appreciating their fans, and the fans keep supporting the celebrity and their career. However, Roan prioritizes herself and her privacy, arguing she is a person like everyone else. There is nothing she owes anyone, and she is entitled to her time despite being famous. Ultimately the question is: has Roan gone too far? Has she violated this “contract” to the point that the fans will no longer support her, or will she revolutionize the way people treat music stars?

Sources

Duarte, Renan. “‘She’s so Toxic’: Fans Are Fed Up with Chappell Roan After She Put Billboard on Blast.” AOL, AOL, 12 Nov. 2024, www.aol.com/her-phone-away-chappell-roan-180140858.html.

Vivinetto, Gina. “Chappell Roan Cancels 2 Big Shows Due to ‘overwhelming’ Pressure. What Is Going On?” TODAY.Com, Today, 27 Sept. 2024, www.today.com/popculture/music/chappell-roan-controversy-rcna173051. 

Solomon, Kate. “‘Fame Is like Going through Puberty’: Chappell Roan on Sexuality, Superstardom and the Joy of Drag.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 20 Sept. 2024, www.theguardian.com/music/2024/sep/20/fame-is-like-going-through-puberty-chappell-roan-on-sexuality-superstardom-and-the-joy-of-drag. 

Greenwood, Dara. “Chappell Roan Canceled Tour Dates Controversy Exposes Perils of Fame.” MSNBC, NBCUniversal News Group, 3 Oct. 2024, www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/chappell-roan-canceled-festival-controversy-fame-rcna173557. 

Ahlgrim, Callie. “Chappell Roan Has Frustrated Fans by Canceling Shows. PR Experts Say She Made the Right Call.” Business Insider, Business Insider, 4 Oct. 2024, www.businessinsider.com/chappell-roan-controversy-explained-pr-experts-respond-2024-10. 

Dodson, P. Claire. “Chappell Roan & Her Fans Might Change Celebrity, Toxic Fan Culture Forever.” Teen Vogue, Teen Vogue, 2 Oct. 2024, www.teenvogue.com/story/chappell-roan-her-fans-might-change-celebrity-toxic-fan-culture-forever. 

Thomas, Carly. “Chappell Roan Has ‘Pumped the Brakes’ on Fame Due to Fans Giving off ‘Stalker Vibes.’” The Hollywood Reporter, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 July 2024, www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/chappell-roan-pause-rise-fame-stalkers-1235953658/. 

Roan, Chappell [@chappellroan]. “Do not assume this is directed at someone or a specific encounter. This is just my side of the story and my feelings.” Tiktok, 19 August 2024, https://www.tiktok.com/@chappellroan/video/7404957266853645611?lang=en 

Roan, Chappell [@chappellroan]. “Chappell Roan responding to fan’s behavior” Tiktok, 19 August 2024, https://www.tiktok.com/@chappellroan/video/7404955808980667690?lang=en

Caruso, Catherine. “How Did Chappell Roan Get Famous?” Biography, 12 Sept. 2024, www.biography.com/musicians/a61100342/how-did-chappell-roan-get-famous. 

@yosoymichael.  “I usually support Chappell, but Billboard is simply doing their job by reporting on music business news. This isn’t some major invasion of privacy. She needs to relax.” Twitter, 11 November 2024, https://x.com/yosoymichael/status/1855997240705208811.