Chappell Roan’s rise to fame this past summer took the pop culture world by storm. The debut of her new album, “The Rise and Fall of the Midwestern Princess,” in 2023, led to hit songs “Good Luck, Babe!” and “HOT TO GO.” The catchy lyrics fooled people into thinking they had just discovered the nation’s next big star. But as her fan base grew, her true colors began to show—“your favorite artist’s favorite artist” truly is only an artist—she has the talent to be a star, but not the dedication.
There’s no denying her songs are great, but without a gracious attitude and proper media training, she’s not fit to be in the public eye. Roan has publicly commented about fan interactions, asking them never come up to her. There is a fine line between harassment and cordial interactions, but celebrities have to understand that when sharing their art with the world, fans are inevitably going to connect with their work. When releasing songs about personal topics—breakups, sexuality, friendships—it is likely that people connect with the artists themselves. On top of this, music creators have somewhat of a responsibility to their fans; they owe them something. The fans are the ones streaming the songs, buying the concert tickets and wearing their merchandise. Do they not deserve a short hello after all of this spending and devotion?
Roan not only steers clear of her fans in the public, but she also chooses not to perform when it isn’t convenient for her. She was scheduled to play in the All Things Go festival in New York on Sept. 28 and in Maryland on Sept. 29, but the day before these two shows, she posted an Instagram story saying that she had to cancel for “mental health reasons.” This cancellation, just one day prior to her shows, was too late for fans that bought tickets and flew out. Her appearance at the festival was the main factor for many peoples’ purchases.
While mental health is important to prioritize, canceling the day before a concert without sincerity is unprofessional. Fans of Roan justify her actions by saying she is protecting herself, but in life, everyone faces adversity; that does not excuse abandoning all responsibilities, especially when it harms others.
Roan doesn’t deserve to be put on a pedestal, above other artists who have sacrificed so much to be where they are. There are countless independent musicians who would give anything for the level of fame Roan has, yet she is squandering it away with her negative attitude. She seems ungrateful for the level of success she has achieved. Roan doesn’t seem to want the very thing others spend their entire lives working toward. We made the wrong person famous.
