Chappell Roan’s “Casual” blared from the Alumnae Green speakers as my newfound friends and I danced to the raunchy lyrics, idyllic in the combined anxiety and joy of being freshly moved into college. Roan was a staple throughout our five days of orientation, her hits being played during outdoor gatherings, before formal presentations and even in the Munger second-floor communal bathroom. Evidently, the Wellesley community is deeply connected with her music, likely due to its empowering queer iconography and unapologetic lyrics voicing common experiences of the LGBTQ+ community. However, this positive reception has been shaded by Roan’s recent political and performance decisions, resurfacing discussions of what can be reasonably expected of those we place on pedestals.
In a recent interview with The Guardian, Roan solidified her neutral political stance, stating she “[doesn’t] feel pressured to endorse someone” due to “problems on both sides” in the current presidential election. However, she follows hypocritically, saying “… they cannot have cis people making decisions for trans people, period” in reference to her desired change this election year, a sentiment greatly associated with Kamala’s campaign.
This dichotomy led to pushback as questions were raised about the merits of equivocating the two candidates, whether intentional or not. Despite the appearance of problems within both parties, failure to endorse Kamala does more harm than good in this crucial pre-election period. However, I find this instance of backlash to be a manifestation of general frustration with the American political system more than Roan herself; the quickness with which the public responds negatively to the political shortcomings of celebrities indicates a state of agitation.
While this pre-election period is crucial, I don’t believe holding Roan to a standard of communicative perfection in the interview is fair. The ability to make decisions regarding public endorsement of parties, movements, or candidates protects the humanity of celebrities like Roan who are idolized to the extent that any minor shortcomings often result in cancellation. The preservation of personal autonomy marks a tandem preservation of one’s humanity, so while we may not agree with Roan’s decision to remain unaligned, it warrants respect nonetheless.
Another wave of adverse reactions accompanied Roan’s cancelation of her sets at the All Things Go Music Festival scheduled for Sept. 28 and 29. Roan announced the change via an Instagram story on Sept. 27, saying she was “unable to perform” as “Things have gotten overwhelming over the past few weeks” in reference to her recent spike in global renown.
A significant portion of the backlash cited instances of previous performers enduring similarly steep rises to popularity, such as 12-year-old Justin Bieber, as evidence that she should “suck it up.” Such comparisons unfairly call for Roan to sideline her mental health in favor of entertaining the masses — a decision that has driven past cultural icons to problematic substance abuse and other harmful behaviors.
The generally negative reaction to Roan’s cancellations is an anachronistic relic of a past in which mental health was not widely discussed, so while conversations surrounding wellbeing have become largely destigmatized, our responses to mental health-preserving actions have not evidenced a parallel evolution. Roan is not immune to the internal challenges we face and deserves to be treated with a similar grace.
Evidenced by both of Roan’s recent controversies, maintaining an open, understanding attitude towards celebrities, especially their most human aspects, poses an avenue for navigating culturally controversial events. Roan has been placed on an untouchable pedestal as a “perfect” queer icon, uplifting of the trans community through booking drag artists to open her shows and unapologetically embracing her lesbian label. Consequently, our love and disappointment exist on a pendulum, one in need of reevaluation — when Roan’s idyllic visage is broken, our disappointment is as strong as our praise. Her recent experiences serve as a reminder of the need for a more compassionate approach to how we engage with celebrities, fostering empathy for our shared humanity rather than perpetuating unrealistic expectations.
Contact the editor(s) responsible for this story: Caitlin Donovan
