She’s at the peak of her career she’s always dreamed of, but suddenly, ‘Pink Pony Club’ singer-songwriter Chappell Roan is asking her adoring fans to slow down a bit.
The 26-year-old from Missouri rose to relative obscurity earlier this year and was hailed as the new Lady Gaga after her campy, successful album made her instantly famous.
Now she tops all the major charts in the world and performs in New York City and at the biggest festivals, attracting over 100,000 people.
She has been releasing music since 2014 and is finally the center of 24/7 admiration – something she describes as “the only thing she ever wanted”.
But it also seems like she’s quickly adopted a diva-like attitude, befitting her newfound fame.
She’s at the peak of her career she’s always dreamed of, but suddenly, ‘Pink Pony Club’ singer-songwriter Chappell Roan is asking her fans to slow down a bit.
It seems she has quickly adopted a diva attitude to match her newfound fame.
In a series of lamenting social media posts, Roan has said she is “tired” of the attention that comes with breaking into mainstream media coverage, especially when she is “not working” and “outside of work hours.”
You know, like every other nine-to-five worker with a lanyard, this Madonna wannabe expects a little peace and quiet once she’s finished her viral Coachella set, opened for Olivia Rodrigo, or performed on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show.
To quote her latest hit: Good Luck, Babe!
It turns out that the fanatical dedication of a carefully built fan base that takes you from anonymity to the top is difficult to control.
Fans want hugs and selfies, autographs or just the chance to shout a few words of praise for their newest icon.
“I do not subscribe to the idea that I owe a reciprocal exchange of energy, time, or attention to people I don’t know, don’t trust, or who make me feel bad just because they express admiration,” she wrote in a lengthy post, after telling her fans she “doesn’t give a damn” if it makes her “selfish.”
“I’m specifically talking about predatory behavior (masquerading as ‘superfan’ behavior) that has become normalized because of the way famous women have been treated in the past,” she added.
Okay, it’s certainly true that some superfans get too invested in it – and harassment should never be tolerated.
But if Roan feels unsafe, she may need to step up her personal security – because that’s, as they say, normal.
And while she’s at it, how about hiring a new PR team before the fans – the vast majority of whom will be well-meaning – reject the ‘Hot to Go!’ singer?
Like any other nine-to-five worker with a lanyard, this Madonna wannabe expects a little peace and quiet after she’s done performing at Coachella or opening for Olivia Rodrigo (right).
Because Roan’s outburst on the other side of fame betrays an ugly intolerance – and an unfortunate ignorance of the industry she has chosen to dominate.
“It’s funny how people think you know someone because you see them online and listen to the art they make,” she mused.
Nothing stranger than her own sudden turnaround.
On her way to the top, she happily talked about her demons, her “public” drug use and how she was a “f***ing freak,” as she recently said in a podcast.
Nothing was too crazy, wrapped in her ‘authentic self’ stuff. Is it really any surprise that many of those who are now soaking it up feel like they know her?
Like other stars currently dominating culture – Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo – Roan’s success is built on an intensely constructed bond between her and her fans.
But herein lies the old-fashioned duplicity of so many spoiled celebrities and their predictable punishment of the fans who are the oxygen that fuels their privileged lives.
A good example is Blake Lively’s mocking, mean-girl behavior toward interviewers while promoting her latest romantic comedy. It’s been called “losing perspective,” and so is the plot.
On her way to the top, she was all too willing to tell the general public about her demons, her “public” drug use and how she was a “f***ing freak,” as she recently said in a podcast.
Fame brings wealth, recognition and opportunities far beyond the reach of the average person. But every job has its drawbacks and we all have to grow up and accept the drawbacks sometimes.
Many will be surprised by Roan’s stance, especially given the effort she has put into her success.
When she lost her recording contract with her record label in 2020 and was forced to work in a donut shop, she was on the verge of giving up on her dream.
In a Swift-driven pop scene, Roan’s ‘80s-inspired synth bangers undoubtedly offer something fresh. From her drag-inspired aesthetic to her killer vocals and a body positivity that doesn’t descend into OnlyFans-esque sleaze, she’s got so much to sell.
Her identity as a positive lesbian role model is one she defines and celebrates on her own terms, rather than the lesbian fantasy that male producers too often force upon heterosexual female pop artists.
There’s also a refreshing lack of false modesty and that annoying, slimy imposter syndrome that many female stars claim to suffer from. In a recent interview, she joked, “You never really know if your art is any good; I’m just kidding, I knew it.”
The question is, was she really ready for everything that would come with meteoric success?