Chappell Roan is the kind of pop star who’ll call it as she sees it — whether she’s on stage or just scrolling through the comments section like the rest of us. But if you thought the “Pink Pony Club” singer was immune to the internet’s endless opinions, think again.
In a refreshingly honest chat with SZA for Interview Magazine, Chappell admitted that, yes, she actually “gives a fuck” about online backlash — and sometimes, it straight-up makes her cry.
“I didn’t, until people started hating me for me and not for my art,” she told SZA.
“When it’s not about my art anymore, it’s like, ‘They hate me because I’m Kayleigh, not because they hate the songs that I make.’ That’s when it changed.”
She’s fine if you don’t vibe with her music, but when the criticism gets personal, it hits different. “When it comes to my art, I’m like, ‘Bitch, you can think whatever you want. You are allowed to hate it with all your guts.’ But when it comes to me and my personality, it’s like, ‘Damn. Am I the most insufferable bitch of our generation?’” she joked.
SZA, who knows a thing or two about copping it online, reassured her that caring is normal.
“It’s comforting to know that you give a fuck, because from the outside, you can come off as so superhuman,” SZA said to Chappell.
“It makes me cry,” Chappell explained.
“I don’t know if it will ever feel okay to hear someone say something really hateful about me.”
Of course, Chappell’s never been shy about speaking up — whether she’s calling out rude photographers or demanding health care for artists at the Grammys. But the bigger her star gets, the more she’s had to deal with people crossing the line, both online and IRL.
Last August, Chappell dropped a seven-slide Instagram post spelling out exactly how wild things had gotten with fans. She said she’d experienced “too many nonconsensual physical and social interactions” and needed to “draw lines and set boundaries”.
Her message was blunt: “Women don’t owe you shit… I chose this career path because I love music and honouring my inner child, I do not accept harassment of any kind because I chose this path, nor do I deserve it.”
She doubled down on TikTok, making it clear that just because she’s chosen a public career, it doesn’t mean she’s up for being grabbed or cornered by strangers. “I don’t care that this crazy type of behaviour comes along with the job, the career field I’ve chosen. That doesn’t make it okay. That doesn’t make it normal. That doesn’t mean I want it, doesn’t mean I like it. I don’t want whatever the fuck you think you’re supposed to be entitled to whenever you see a celebrity.”
She explained that when she’s on stage or at work, she’s “on the clock” — but outside of that, she’s just Kayleigh, and she doesn’t owe anyone her time or energy if she’s not feeling it.
Roan talked about her approach to fame during her conversation with SZA: “I think that I’m doing it the way I want to, but not everyone likes that. I will yell at a bitch on the carpet. I think that right now in my career, I’m just trying to see if the way I’ve been doing it is sustainable. Am I okay with the backlash of speaking my mind? That’s where I am right now.”
So, the next time you see Chappell trending for something she’s said or done, maybe remember she’s a real person who’s just trying to do her job and keep her sanity. She’s not about to stop being herself, but she’s also not here for anyone’s entitlement — online or off. And honestly, fair enough.
Lead image: Getty Images
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