Chappell Roan, a queer pop artist, has recently risen to fame due to her quirky nature and inclusiveness towards fans. Most people who have TikTok and other social media platforms are familiar with her songs, which have skyrocketed to the top of streaming platforms over the past few months. Her most famous songs include; “HOT TO GO!,” “Pink Pony Club,” “Good Luck, Babe!,” and “Femininomenon.’’ Roan’s songs capture the essence of the energy that reminds listeners of the 80’s.
Roan began her music career nearly a decade ago at the age of 16 when she wrote her original song, “Die Young,’’ which went viral after she posted it on Youtube and subsequently signed with Atlantic Records. By the age of 26, she was living a celebrity dream. That is, until recent accusations made her reputation take a turn for the worse. During the past few months, Roan has faced backlash for not endorsing Harris or Trump for the presidential election and allegedly distancing herself from fans that have invested time and money into supporting her throughout her career. Freshman Timothy Ho shared his opinion of Roan’s actions.
“She (Roan) should have endorsed Kamala Harris,” Ho said. “Just because you have one different opinion doesn’t mean you have to stop endorsing the right person.”
On September 28th and 29th, during the “All Things Go” music festival stops in New York City, Columbia, and Maryland, Roan canceled her performance, letting down all of her fans. Her reasoning? Stress. However, many believe that she should be better prepared to handle the pressure that comes with fame. Fans felt as if their time, money, and energy had been wasted. On Instagram stories, Roan explained, “I feel pressured to prioritize a lot of things right now and I need a few days to prioritize my health. I want to be present when I perform and give the best shows possible. Thank you for understanding. Be back soon xox.”
After announcing that she was not going to endorse a candidate because she simply “wasn’t pressured” to do so, many people turned on her. Her own fans did not feel like Roan deserved their support if she was not willing to choose a stance regarding the future of America. Although controversies about Chappell Roan’s behavior in the last few months are prominent, her fame continues with her viral hits topping charts. This leads many to believe that losing some fans is insignificant to her career, as Roan will gain more then she will lose. Regardless, Roan has a long way to go in her career, and only time will tell how the controversies will impact her stardom.
