Chapel Lawn, 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 ever come out of Gen Z.
If you’ve heard Roan’s work, it’s easy to see why. Her high-energy music is a lighthearted anthem for LGBTQ+ Generation Z youth. That’s why I’m so surprised that people, her own fans, are turning against her.
Last weekend, Roan had to miss the music festival “All Things Go” due to health reasons. The decision comes after intense scrutiny over her decision not to fully support Vice President Kamala Harris and weeks of controversy surrounding the singer.
“Things have been getting overwhelming the last few weeks and I’m really feeling it,” she said in a statement on her Instagram Story.
I’m proud of Roan for making his health a priority, even if it upsets others. While we understand the frustration of missing out on your favorite artist’s performance, there are real issues with the way celebrities are treated that need to be addressed. Roan seems to be leading the conversation.
Why did fans pay attention to Chapel Lawn?
The controversy surrounding Roane stems from two interviews. The first was in Rolling Stone magazine, where she said, “I don’t take sides because I hate both sides.”
She later reinforced this sentiment in an interview with the Guardian.
“I don’t feel any pressure to support anyone,” Roan said. “There are issues on both sides. I encourage people to use your critical thinking skills and use your vote – vote small and be involved in what’s going on in your city. Please vote.”
It sparked a series of reactions on social media.
“Chapel Lawn is embarrassing for lesbians,” Maya Luna, executive director of Progress Lives, posted on X. “We cannot act as if lesbians are the same as those who borrow the aesthetics of drag and embrace their sexuality while criminalizing our happiness.” ”
Another user wrote: “How can you be queer when you’re such a passionate advocate for the drag community and somehow you’re both ‘bad’?”
Some accused her of secretly being a supporter of former President Donald Trump. She then tried to resolve the issue by posting a video on TikTok saying she would vote for Harris but not support her.
“I cannot support the completely transphobic and completely genocidal views of the left,” Roane said in the video.
That was more than she needed to say. She didn’t have to explain herself to people who already knew where she was coming from. However, her very justified belief that politicians should be held to higher standards has raised questions about whether she is ready for fame.
OPINION: Just because Chapel Lawn spoke out about the abuse she suffered doesn’t make her any less worthy of fame.
Roan was the soundtrack of my life
To be honest, I’m biased – Roan’s music is special to me.
A friend from college showed me Roan’s music in 2022. Since then, I have associated her with precious formative moments from the past few years.
There’s a video of friends dancing to “Pink Pony Club” at a 2023 birthday party. Later that year, I sang “Red Wine Supernova” with friends on a trip to see Boygenius. “Naked in Manhattan” reminds me of that.When I moved to New York and went to gay bars, I knew “HOT TO GO!”. Don’t start with “casual” even for TikTok dances.
It’s safe to say I’m a fan. Roan’s infectious and unapologetically sapphic pop music makes me feel noticed. She soundtracked my coming out story. Many others can relate to her as well.
I thought the mental health care would be better.
I didn’t realize until recently that Roan and I had similar mental health issues. Roan has previously spoken about suffering from bipolar disorder and was recently diagnosed with severe depression.
I know firsthand how difficult bipolar disorder and depression can be. I can’t imagine taking care of myself while the world is watching. I completely understand why she had to take time off. And I’m surprised so many people are mad at her for that. I thought we were making progress in dealing with mental health, especially when it came to young female celebrities.
Roan previously spoke out about how some fans treat her, slamming the “abuse and harassment” she receives from them. This was also controversial, even though she was simply asking people not to stalk her or her family.
“I don’t care that it’s normal,” Roan said in a TikTok video. “I don’t care if this kind of crazy behavior comes with my chosen job or career field. It’s not OK.”
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The video was parodied on Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update” segment, featuring Bowen Yang as the popular pygmy hippo Mu Deng.
The video received some backlash, with Yang saying, “I think that’s the way it is, even if my personal stance and work is not completely clear in terms of supporting her.”
I was disappointed in the joke at Roan’s expense, and I was also disappointed in the whole conversation surrounding Roan and her decision to cancel the show. We have come so far in addressing mental health, an issue that Gen Z in particular has been vocal about. But for some reason, we can’t afford to give celebrities the same grace that we often demand of ourselves and our loved ones.
We are allowed to criticize Harris and still vote for her
I like Roan’s music, but I don’t feel the need to know who she’s voting for. Her statement about reluctantly voting for Harris sounds like many other Gen Zers I know.
People of my generation are outraged by what is happening in Gaza and how the war is spreading throughout the Middle East. We are disappointed by the number of anti-trans bills passed in the United States in recent years.
Many of us will still vote for Harris. She has a 31-point lead among voters ages 18 to 29, according to Harvard University. But that support requires knowing that Democrats are failing to address some issues. We can criticize the system we are a part of and the candidates we ultimately support.
Moreover, it may not even matter whether a celebrity endorses it or not. True, Taylor Swift sent 400,000 people to Vote.gov immediately after endorsing the Democratic presidential candidate on September 10th, but we wonder if those people will actually vote or just vote because Swift said they would. It is unknown whether
In the grand scheme of things, Roan’s endorsement of a candidate will probably have little effect on the election.
I don’t think it’s necessary to fully support Roann for people to know where her politics lie, especially if it comes at the cost of her well-being. I hope others learn to respect her privacy and give her the space she needs.
Follow USA TODAY elections columnist Sara Pequeno on X (formerly Twitter) @sara__pequeno