Opinion: Chappell Roan doesn’t owe you anything, actually

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 on social media.
“Chappell roan is an embarrassment to lesbians,” Maya Luna, executive director of Progress Libs, posted to X. “You can’t borrow from drag aesthetics and embrace your sexuality and then pretend the party that would criminalize our happiness is the same as the one who protects it.”
“How are you queer, an ardent defender of the drag community and somehow a ‘both sides are bad’ person,” another user wrote.
Some even accused her of secretly being a supporter of former President Donald Trump. She then tried fixing the problem by posting a video on TikTok saying that she would vote for Harris but not endorse her.
“There is no way I can stand behind some of the left’s completely transphobic and completely genocidal views,” Roan says in the video.
Even that was more than she needed to say. She didn’t need to explain herself to people who already knew where she was coming from. Yet her very valid beliefs on how politicians should be held to a higher standard have made some question if she’s prepared for fame at all.
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I have to admit, I’m biased – Roan’s music is special to me.
A friend from college showed me Roan’s music in 2022. Since then, I’ve associated her with precious, formative moments from the last few years.
I have a video of my friends dancing to “Pink Pony Club” at a birthday party in 2023. Later that year, I sang with friends to “Red Wine Supernova” on a trip to see the band boygenius. “Naked in Manhattan” reminds me of moving to New York and going to gay bars. I know the “HOT TO GO!” TikTok dance. Don’t even get me started on “Casual.”
It’s safe to say I’m a fan. Roan’s infectious, unapologetically sapphic pop music makes me feel seen. She soundtracked my coming out story. Many others can relate to her in the same way.
I didn’t realize until recently that Roan and I deal with similar mental health issues. Roan has previously talked about having bipolar disorder and was recently diagnosed with severe depression.
I know firsthand how difficult bipolar disorder and depression can be. I cannot imagine trying to take care of myself while the world watches. I completely understand why she needed to take time off – and I’m surprised so many people are upset with her about it. I thought we had progressed in the ways we handle mental health, especially when it comes to young female celebrities.
Roan had also previously spoken about the way some of her fans interact with her, calling out the “abuse and harassment” she experiences from fans. This also generated controversy − even though she was simply asking for people not to stalk her and her family.
“I don’t care that it’s normal,” Roan said in a TikTok video. “I don’t care that this crazy type of behavior comes along with the job, the career field I’ve chosen. That does not make it OK.”
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The video was parodied in a “Weekend Update” segment on Saturday Night Live, with Bowen Yang dressed as viral pygmy hippo Moo Deng.
The video has received some backlash, prompting Yang to say, “If my personal stance and the piece aren’t absolutely clear in terms of supporting her then there it is I guess.”
I’m disappointed in the jokes at Roan’s expense and disappointed with the overall conversation surrounding Roan and her decision to cancel performances. We’ve come so far in addressing mental health, and it’s an issue Gen Z, in particular, has been vocal about. Yet, for some reason, we can’t afford to give a celebrity the same graces we often demand for ourselves and others we care about.
Even though I like Roan’s music, I don’t feel the need to know who she’s voting for. Her saying she’d vote for Harris begrudgingly sounds like many other Gen Z people I know.
People my age are upset with what is happening in Gaza and how the war is spreading throughout the Middle East. We are dismayed at the slew of anti-trans legislation that has been passed in the United States in recent years.
Many of us will still vote for Harris. She is leading among 18- to 29-year-old voters by 31 points, according to Harvard. But that support comes with knowing that the Democratic Party has failed to address some issues. We can criticize a system we participate in and candidates we will ultimately support.
Plus, it may not even matter if celebrities make endorsements. Sure, Taylor Swift sent 400,000 people to Vote.gov immediately after she endorsed the Democratic presidential nominee on Sept. 10, but it’s unclear if those people will actually vote – or if they’ll vote solely because Swift said she would.
In the grand scheme of things, Roan endorsing a candidate would probably make very little difference in the election.
I don’t think Roan needs to make an all-out endorsement for people to know where her politics lie – especially if it costs her well-being. I hope that other people can learn to respect her privacy and give her the space she needs.
Follow USA TODAY elections columnist Sara Pequeño on X, formerly Twitter, @sara__pequeno