By now, it would be almost impossible to not know who Chappell Roan is. Known for her performances where she takes on a drag persona, and for her chart topping songs “HOT TO GO!,” “Good Luck Babe!” and “Casual,” it is easy to see why she is beloved by so many. She has the “IT” factor: the unspoken quality that some stars are just born with. That, combined with her presence on social media, has made for a dynamic impact on how we define a pop star in this day and age.
As well as we believed things were going for Chappell, recent events have shown the opposite has been happening. “When I’m on stage, when I’m performing, when I’m in drag, when I’m at a work event, when I’m doing press…I am at work. Any other circumstance, I am not in work mode. I am clocked out. I don’t agree with the notion that I owe a mutual exchange of energy, time, or attention to people I do not know, do not trust, or who just creep me out – just because they’re expressing admiration,” Chappell wrote on Instagram on Aug. 23, 2024.
This is not the first time, and it certainly will not be the last time, that a female artist who is in the spotlight experiences harassment. However, many of these instances are swept under the radar just because it can be easier to forget and move on.
Chappell’s choice to speak out on this issue is eye opening, and it shows the true courage of a woman who is unafraid to express boundaries. There have been a mixed range of responses to this post. Some people are extremely supportive of Chappell’s willingness to speak up on what she truly feels, and they understand her need to set boundaries. Yet countless others are saying that she is rude, doesn’t care about her fans and is making a big deal out of nothing. This has now opened the platform for other artists who have experienced similar treatment, and has allowed for discussion to occur on social media regarding Chappell’s statement.
The harsh reality is that if you are famous, no matter what you do, somebody is going to criticize you. No matter how many ride-or-die fans you have, there will always be just as many people tearing apart everything about you. This is only amplified if you are a woman. So why does society treat female artists as if the harassment they feel is just a day in the life, a simple line in the job description? When someone becomes famous, they aren’t necessarily coming in with the expectation of having stalkers, haters, and attention 24/7. They are often just doing what they love, and don’t anticipate how hard it is to simply go to the grocery store without being surrounded by hundreds of fans. How can female artists create healthy boundaries with fans, but still make them feel special? There is a fine line between having a separation from fans and appearing ungrateful and standoffish. However, an artist can still appreciate and love her fans while not wanting them to take over her personal life. And why does a woman speaking her mind automatically make her the villain? It is not okay to suppress the voices of others. It should not be a bad thing for a woman to speak up and say if something feels wrong. And most importantly, women should not feel isolated when expressing how they feel. Overall, I feel that the way to change this narrative is to deconstruct the patriarchal ideals that are pressed on all women. We live in a society where women are constantly criticized and torn down for every move that they make. Someone is always going to think you asked for that kind of attention by wearing that top, or that you were too mean to the guy who was “just trying to compliment you.” This is only amplified on a global scale, where female artists can never fully please a male-dominated world.
Even though Chappell is a pop star, women everywhere, including myself, can relate to the feeling of forced performance. Every day is our “stage” and all of our choices amount up to the way that society, or the “audience,” perceives us. This is not something that we can change in a day. But we can change the way that we react to women standing up for themselves by supporting them rather than invalidating them. Women don’t owe anybody anything, and it’s time for society to accept this fact. It is time to realize that stalking, harassment and sexual assault should not be treated as the norm. Female artists, and all women in general, deserve to feel safe, protected and able to exist in peace.
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