Chappell Roan has enraged fans with a two-part TikTok post in which she spoke about her current problems with fans “stalking” and “harassing” her. Many supporters took this as an insult to their fandom rather than a boundary set by the artist.
This summer, singer-songwriter Chappell Roan’s career took off with flying colors after pop songs such as “HOT TO GO!”, with a YMCA-esque dance to go along with it, reached over 250 million streams on Spotify. This success is something that most artists would see as a call for celebration, but in Roan’s case, it has been the exact opposite.
Roan’s TikTok was a big shift from her usual fun, colorful persona; she appeared to her viewers in normal clothes and speaking with a burnt-out voice and tired eyes.
“If you saw a random woman on the street, would you yell at her from the car window?” Roan said in her videos. “Would you harass her in public? Would you stalk her family? Would you follow her around? Would you try to dissect her life and bully her online? This is a lady you don’t know, and she doesn’t know you at all.”
Roan followed her thoughts with another video voicing her concerns, her side of the story, and her stance in this situation.
“I don’t care that this crazy type of behavior comes along with the job,” Roan said. “I’m allowed to say no to creepy behavior, okay?”
Fans were immediately taken back by this blunt, straightforward statement, with numerous followers describing Roan as “bratty” and “diva-like.” Additionally, people were unhappy with her stern tone, saying that Roan should’ve been more “polite” about the whole ordeal.
Many are arguing that Roan’s following, whether hectic or well behaved, should be expected when famous. However, inappropriate behavior towards celebrities–or any human–should not be dismissed as normalcy.
The charm about Chappell Roan and what really helped her career gain traction was not only her catchy music but her transparent, authentic self, seen throughout her lyrics and fan interactions at concerts. Now, the public sees this strongly outspoken woman as one who is complaining, instead of utilizing the very tools that helped her rise to fame.
In light of such events, Roan’s future involvement in the musical spotlight remains uncertain. The potential toward a more withdrawn lifestyle, whether by her own choice or by her jaded fans, is unknown to the public as of right now.
