Chappell Roan addresses ‘villain’ label: ‘Standing up for myself is essential for my career’

Chappell Roan 2025 Met Gala Celebrating โ€˜Superfine: Tailoring Black Styleโ€™
Photo Credit: Doug Peters/PA Images/INSTARimages

The spotlight on Chappell Roan grew more intense last year after she posted multiple TikToks attempting to clarify her position on the presidential election when an interview quote was misinterpreted. Each new video gave critics more material to analyze. Some wondered why she wouldnโ€™t just let it go and allow people to believe what they wanted, even if incorrect. In a recent conversation on TS Madisonโ€˜s Outlaws, the 26-year-old artist explained that defending herself and setting boundaries is crucial for her survival in the music industry.

โ€œI cannot bear people saying Iโ€™m something Iโ€™m not. Thatโ€™s whatโ€™s really hard online. People just assume youโ€™re the villain,โ€ Roan said. She first faced major backlash last August when she established boundaries between her private and public life. After sharing that while experiencing career highs, she also felt increasingly unsafe dealing with stalking and harassment, she was criticized for being entitled and ungrateful.

MTV Video Music Awards 2024 - Red Carpet
Chappell Roan arrives at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards held at UBS Arena on September 11, 2024. Photo Credit: Abaca Press/INSTARimages

On Outlaws, she compared the treatment to how Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, and Paris Hilton were treated. โ€œThat behavior is still, theyโ€™re still doing it,โ€ she said. โ€œDo you want me to just get to the point where I become agoraphobic? Or so stressed out, or so anxious to perform? You want me to get to that point? Because if I donโ€™t say anything, I will. If I do not stand up for myself, I will quit because I cannot bear this. I cannot bear people touching me who I donโ€™t know. I cannot bear people following me.โ€

During a game of โ€œBan it, Bitch!โ€ on Outlaws, Roan mentioned Pop Crave, a popular X account that shares entertainment news and often posts interview quotes from established media outlets. Many of her online controversies started with Pop Crave posts. The issue isnโ€™t necessarily the accountโ€™s portrayal of her, but rather how its posts can be misinterpreted without context, leading to heated debates in the comments section like a digital colosseum for pop stars.

Chappell Roan Los Angeles Premiere Of Netflix's 'Olivia Rodrigo: GUTS World Tour'
Chappell Roan at the Premiere of Netflixโ€™s โ€˜Olivia Rodrigo: GUTS World Tourโ€™ at NYA EAST Los Angeles on Oct 25, 2024. Photo Credit: Dave Starbuck/Future Image/Cover Images

This treatment has impacted her real-world experiences too. Sheโ€™s called out aggressive photographers at red carpet events multiple times, only to be labeled difficult and villainous online. โ€œIโ€™ve been treated better at my doughnut shop job than I have on a fucking carpet,โ€ Roan said. โ€œPeople on the news treat me worse than how customers did. And I think when I started to say, โ€˜Donโ€™t talk to me like thatโ€™ โ€ฆ That doesnโ€™t mean that Iโ€™m a villain or ungrateful for what I have. Itโ€™s like, โ€˜Why is this customary?'โ€



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