Chappell Roan, born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, has just recently become a sensation in the pop industry with her hits such as Good Luck, Babe!, Pink Pony Club, And Hot to Go despite her long-term presence in the industry which has allowed her to build a platform for herself that advocates equality and respect. According to Sharf, Roan was in fourth grade when she saw Miley Cyrus for the first time. Additionally, Miley Cyrus has stood up for Roan when she set boundaries with her fans.
In 2024, Roan had been reeling from the weird interactions people expect her to respond to simply because it is “a part of her job”. Scharf and Zinman quote Roan saying, “I need you to answer questions, just answer my questions for a second: If you saw a random woman on the street, would you yell at her from your car window? Would you harass her in public? Would you go up to a random lady and say, ‘Can I take a photo with you?’ and she says ‘No, what the f***?’ and then you get mad at this random lady? Would you be offended if she says no to your time because she has her own time? Would you stalk her family? Would you follow her around? Would you try to dissect her life and bully her online? This is a lady you don’t know and she doesn’t know you at all. Would you assume that she’s a good person, assume she’s a bad person? Would you assume everything you read online about her is true? I’m a random b****, you’re a random b****. Just think about that for a second, OK? I don’t give a f*** if you think it’s selfish of me to say no for a photo or for your time or for a hug. That’s not normal. That’s weird. I don’t care that abuse and harassment, stalking, whatever, is a normal thing to do to people who are famous, or a little famous. It’s weird how people think that you know a person just because you see them online and you listen to the art they make. That’s f****** weird! I’m allowed to say no to creepy behavior, OK?”
Parasocial relationships are typical in the United States because of widespread media coverage of famous individuals. Starting in grade school one may hear the words ‘celebrity crush’ whispering down the halls and in the lunchroom. These bonds have previously been reciprocated graciously by superstars who cater to fans when in the eye of the public because they know their success is tied to their fan base and public image. Less people talk about how difficult it is to be famous and how violating and borderline obsessive fans can be when intrusive behaviors are not reciprocated. It is difficult to know exactly how to respond to behavior that seems to go beyond what we are comfortable with and what is appreciated, and the same seems to go for Chappell Roan. There has been significant controversy about the comments she made last year regarding fan behavior.
Being approached by a stranger who acts like they know you, can be off putting, even if the person being approached is famous. For popstars, the huge fan base makes it hard to keep living a normal life; any time they go into the public eye it’s important to stick to their own values whether it be dressing down to avoid recognition or responding kindly to being approached because giving autographs and having pictures taken by strangers supports a positive self-brand and is an easy way to gain public support.
Chappell Roan may seem like a new face in the industry, though she had originally been signed as a minor. Prior to blowing up on TikTok, the artist had released several songs including her first song “Die Young” at the age of 16. Chappell is no stranger to work and has been building her career for many years before reinventing her appearance and becoming highly recognized for her music. Her focus is on the art of making music that speaks to the soul. She has put in the effort and now the fame is coming, though according to Abby Zinman, Roan had made it clear she did not want to win a Grammy if it meant an unsustainable career. Despite her hesitations, Chappell Roan won the 2025 Grammy for Best New Artist and made a moving speech. In Chappell’s acceptance speech, she advocated for music labels to support their artists with livable wages and healthcare which she was denied as a minor when she was signed. She also shared that when she got dropped by her original label she had no work experience and was unable to support her own health insurance through the pandemic. She strongly advocated for developing artists to be supported with healthcare, protection and livable wages by demanding that the labels recognize and treat each artist they have signed with the value they deserve.
Chappell Roan speaking out against the severe lack of boundaries from fans was a wake-up call to remind people that truly caring for people who are famous, means respecting them as an individual and refraining from weird behavior, such as showing up at someone’s hotel room, does. Everyone should be afforded the same rights and boundaries respected, regardless of whether they are famous or not.
