Chappell Roan delivered a dazzling performance as she kicked off the sold-out UK leg of her tour in Manchester on Friday night, just days after she lashed out at a photographer at the VMAs.
The 26-year-old singer looked stunning in a mermaid-print bodysuit and jewels as she performed at her first UK concert since becoming a star.
Her stunning outfit, which she wore for most of the show, featured an array of underwater-themed details, including pearls, a starfish and shells.
The singer and songwriter, who performs in drag, completed her stage look with pink cowboy boots and sparkly green eye shadow.
She treated the audience to her greatest hits, including Good Luck Babe, Hot To Go and Red Wine Supernova.
Chappell Roan delivered a dazzling performance as she kicked off her sold-out UK tour in Manchester on Friday night, just days after she slammed a photographer at the VMAs
The singer looked stunning in a mermaid-print bodysuit and jewels as she stepped out to perform at her first UK concert since becoming a star
Chappell made a few outfit changes during the show, and in keeping with the theme, she later wore a blue and white crop top and mermaid-style shorts, before opting for a blue embellished corset dress.
Her highly anticipated tour will next see Glasgow and Dublin before she plays three sold-out shows at London’s O2 Academy Brixton on September 19, 20 and 21.
Her performance in Manchester came moments after she was filmed angrily fighting back against a photographer while walking the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards on Wednesday.
The singer was praised by fans for ‘defending herself’ after she made an expletive-filled comment while posing for photos ahead of the ceremony.
In footage of the incident, a photographer can be heard shouting, “Shut your f***ing mouth,” to which Chappell turns around and shouts back, “YOU shut your f***ing mouth!”
She added: “No! Not me, b****!” which prompted cheers from some onlookers at the scene. “Tell him, girl,” said one woman who witnessed the encounter.
The conversation began when a male photographer, off-camera, apparently shouted for someone to “turn around.”
Chappell was facing away from the cameras at the time as she was having her extravagant red carpet outfit altered.
The star has previously spoken out about her frustration with “weird” fans who made her “uncomfortable” with their intrusive behavior, prompting a backlash from social media users who felt she was being ungrateful for her stardom.
She treated the audience to her greatest hits, including Good Luck Babe, Hot To Go and Red Wine Supernova
Her stunning ensemble, which she wore for most of the show, featured an array of underwater-themed details including pearls, a starfish and shells
The singer and songwriter, who performs in drag, completed her main stage look with pink cowboy boots and sparkly green eyeshadow
Chappell underwent a number of wardrobe changes during the show
The next stops on her highly anticipated tour are Glasgow and Dublin, before she plays three sold-out shows at London’s O2 Academy Brixton on September 19, 20 and 21.
The Manchester show comes shortly after she was filmed angrily backing away from a photographer as she walked the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards on Wednesday
However, fans have been praising Chappell’s response on social media, posting messages on X including: ‘They hate it when women are outspoken and confident and not afraid to speak out and defend themselves;
‘I love to see a woman defend herself; she ate him up, as she should;
“Great to see a woman standing up against disrespect; finally a celebrity standing up for herself.”
Before the ceremony, Chappell put a daring spin on her medieval princess costume, complete with a plunging chiffon dress, a large cross, pointed nails, gloves and a sword.
The Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl singer, who has come out as a lesbian, was accompanied by a huge mystery man dressed as a medieval guard.
She won the VMA for Best New Artist and was enthusiastic in her speech: ‘Can you believe it? We’re at the VMAs! I’m going to read from – I wrote a speech – from my diary.’
The singer was praised by fans for ‘defending’ herself after she made a profanity-laced comment while posing for photos ahead of the ceremony
Fans on social media responded with praise for Chappell’s response
Before the ceremony, Chappell put a cheeky spin on a medieval warrior princess costume, complete with a plunging chiffon dress, a large cross, pointed fingernails, gloves and a sword
“Thank you, MTV and Island Records and my team and my family and friends. I dedicate this to all the drag artists that inspire me, that inspire me, and I dedicate this to the queer and trans people that fuel pop, to the queer people that dedicate my songs to someone they love or hate,” she said.
Her red carpet outburst came after she expressed her “frustration” that people are only now starting to take her seriously as an artist.
The Pink Pony Club singer made the statements in a cover story for Rolling Stone.
“What’s so frustrating is how people are only now taking me seriously,” she said. “Like, ‘You know what, b***h? I’ve done this shit and you’re just now catching up.'”
“Part of me hopes I never have another hit record because then no one will expect anything from me,” the star told Rolling Stone.
But Chappell explained that music is her passion. “It’s my dream job. I never know if it will ever be like that again, which is kind of scary.”