Chappell Roan is opening up about how speaking out against “creepy behavior” has impacted her career.
In a new interview with the BBC, published Sunday (Jan. 19), the 26-year-old pop star discussed her decision to stand up for herself despite being labeled by some as a “spoiled diva” or accused of throwing “tantrums” about her privacy.
The “Good Luck, Babe!” singer has previously spoken about her experiences with “predatory behavior” from fans on social media. She explained that after years of hard work building her music career, she’s had to set clear boundaries to protect herself from uncomfortable and often invasive interactions.
“I’ve been responding that way to disrespect my whole life — but now there are cameras on me, and I also happen to be a pop star, and those things don’t match,” Roan told the BBC. “It’s like oil and water.”
In October 2024, Roan went viral after confronting a photographer who had previously made her feel uncomfortable on the red carpet at the premiere of Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour film in Los Angeles. She had a similar experience with another photographer at the 2024 MTV VMAs.
The “Red Wine Supernova” artist admitted that her outspoken nature has had consequences for her career.
“I think, actually, I’d be more successful if I was okay wearing a muzzle,” she said. “If I were to override more of my basic instincts, where my heart is going, ‘Stop, stop, stop, you’re not okay’, I would be bigger.”
She added, “I would be way bigger … And I would still be on tour right now.”
Last fall, Roan decided not to extend her tour and instead focused on her physical and mental health. The artist credits her grandfather for giving her valuable advice that guides her decisions.
“There’s something he said that I think about in every move I make with my career. There are always options,” Roan shared with BBC. “So when someone says, ‘Do this concert because you’ll never get offered that much money ever again,’ it’s like, who cares? If I don’t feel like doing this right now, there are always options. There is not a scarcity of opportunity. I think about that all the time.”
Roan, who was named Billboard’s Top New Artist of 2024 and is nominated for six Grammys, rose to fame with her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in October 2024. The album spawned multiple charting singles, including “Pink Pony Club,” “Casual” and “Good Luck, Babe!”
