Why does fame oftentimes amount to an invasion of privacy? This is a topic that many artists rarely openly discuss. Chappell Roan has recently decided to weigh in on the topic via a carousel post on Instagram, due to recent physical and social violations of her personal space. In the past year, she has rapidly risen in popularity, among the LGBT+ community and beyond. She has now reached a level of brand new celebrity that can only be described as exponential. With her breakout hit “Good Luck Babe” reaching over 600 million streams and counting, Chappell Roan is a name making its way around the globe.
But as her reputation and art reach new heights, fan interactions have increased in frequency, as well as hostility. Chappell highlights the main message of her post with the phrase “Women don’t owe you shit.” Meaning, that just because she is in the public eye does not mean she owes fans certain types of interactions, especially when she is not “working” (on stage, in drag, etc.). Even more so when said interactions involve toxic “super-fan” behaviors such as stalking, prying, following, and calling her “Kayleigh,” which she has strongly disapproved of many times before.
While expressing endless gratitude and appreciation for her success and the respectful support she receives, Chappell draws a reasonable line between her and her fans. She writes:
This has nothing to do with the gratitude and love I feel for my community…for the love I feel from every person who lifts me up and has stuck with me…
Admiration and dedication, which add up to fandom, are great things but do not equate to immediate, unrestricted access to a person who in reality, is a stranger. In other words, a parasocial relationship. This psychological occurrence is most often associated with celebrities and looks different for different types of public figures. Chappell’s post emphasizes the harmful effects such relationships have on women in the public eye since they are presumed to “suck it up” or respond with grace, often being pushed to very uncomfortable limits.
Chappell’s statement sparked debate among fans, where some opined that she does not “deserve” her newfound fame. But this is exactly her point; fame and a lack of boundaries have become so intrinsically tied, to a point where many fans lack nuance and rationality in both thought and behavior. In her own words, she firmly says:
I do not accept harassment of any kind because I chose this path, nor do I deserve it.
In a post-pandemic world where the social etiquette of concerts and festivals has, in some cases, reflected chronically online behaviors, opening this conversation was a must. Let Chappell Roan’s expressions be a wider reminder to not assume, to consume art consciously, and to overall respect personal boundaries. Fans need to support our favorite artists with the best intentions so that the world can continue loving and making music.
To support Chappell Roan, stream her hit album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess on Spotify and Apple Music.