Mainstream Fans are Out of Touch with Chappell Roan

Since the election, culture analysts have noted a shift toward conservative values. With Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter topping charts, it’s easy to see the desire for classic pop princesses. However, one of the biggest names from 2024 transcends tradition. 

In just one year, Chappell Roan has skyrocketed to stardom. As predicted in the title of her debut studio album, the last twelve months have seen the rise and fall of her popularity. Mainstream audiences discovered her when “Casual” blew up online. Young women interpreted the song as an ode to the “situationship.” When she released “Good Luck Babe,” despite the lyrics referencing compulsory heterosexuality, straight girls loosely interpreted it as a song about unfulfilling relationships. 

Like most pop sensations, fans lusted after her, demanding photos and showing up at her home. In August, she stated, “I need to draw lines and set boundaries… I’ve been in too many non-consensual physical and social interactions.”

Backlash came immediately. Fans accused her of being “out of touch.” Believing that the price of fame is privacy, prying eyes condemned the singer for refusing them access to her life. She canceled tour stops for her mental health, and the fallout continued — though from the same fans who failed to understand what her music was about.

From the beginning, Chappell Roan was explicitly queer. Her songs are about loving women; drag queens inspire her look. Queerness questions the status quo. Her music is not for the masses. She didn’t set out to create the next “Eras Tour.” Her fall — a repercussion of refusing to play the role of a traditional celebrity — only adds to the subversive allure she brings to the stage. 

In November, she made her SNL debut. This time, she left fans with a clear message about her identity. Despite dressing like a classic country singer, she was anything but the next Taylor Swift. She performed her new song, “The Giver,” a country bop about lesbian sex. 

Whether fans love or hate Chappell Roan, the Midwest Princess has made it clear that she’s not just here to entertain but to make a statement.