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 wouldnโt just let it go and allow people to believe what they wanted, even if incorrect. In a recent conversation on TS Madisonโs Outlaws, the 26-year-old artist explained that defending herself and setting boundaries is crucial for her survival in the music industry.
โI cannot bear people saying Iโm something Iโm not. Thatโs whatโs really hard online. People just assume youโre 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.

On Outlaws, she compared the treatment to how Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, and Paris Hilton were treated. โThat behavior is still, theyโre still doing it,โ she said. โDo 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 donโt 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 donโt know. I cannot bear people following me.โ
During a game of โBan 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 isnโt necessarily the accountโs 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.

This treatment has impacted her real-world experiences too. Sheโs called out aggressive photographers at red carpet events multiple times, only to be labeled difficult and villainous online. โIโve been treated better at my doughnut shop job than I have on a fucking carpet,โ Roan said. โPeople on the news treat me worse than how customers did. And I think when I started to say, โDonโt talk to me like thatโ โฆ That doesnโt mean that Iโm a villain or ungrateful for what I have. Itโs like, โWhy is this customary?'โ