Chappell Roan, 26, is a rising star in pop music. Her hit album "Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess" was released a year ago, and she just won Best New Artist at the MTV Video Music Awards. Her fans include Elton John and RuPaul. She is undoubtedly one of the most famous artists to come out of Gen Z thus far.
If you've heard any of Roan's work, it's easy to understand why. Her high-energy music is lighthearted and anthemic for LGBTQ Gen Z youth. It's why I'm so surprised that people – her own fans – have turned on her.
Last weekend, Roan had to pull out of the music festival All Things Go, citing her health. The decision followed intense scrutiny over her decision not to outright endorse Vice President Kamala Harris and weeks of discourse surrounding the singer.
“Things have gotten overwhelming over the past few weeks and I am really feeling it,” she said in a statement on her Instagram story.
I’m proud of Roan for prioritizing her health – even if it upsets other people. While I understand the frustration of missing out on your favorite artist's performance, there is a real issue with the way we treat famous people that must be addressed. Roan seems to be leading that conversation.
The controversy surrounding Roan stems from two interviews. The first was with Rolling Stone, where she said she doesn’t “have a side because I hate both sides.”
Then, she doubled down on this sentiment in an interview with The Guardian.
“I don’t feel pressured to endorse someone,” Roan said. “There’s problems on both sides. I encourage people to use your critical thinking skills, use your vote – vote small, vote for what’s going on in your city.”
That sparked a flurry of reactions........