Chappell Roan Speaks Out: The Dark Side of Fame and Fan Entitlement

Photo byWSBT

Willard, MO – Chappell Roan, the rising synth-pop sensation hailing from Willard, Missouri, recently took to TikTok to address the disturbing fan behavior she’s faced amid her skyrocketing fame. Known offstage as Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, the 26-year-old artist expressed her frustration and concern over the harassment and entitlement some fans have displayed in response to her growing success.

In a candid two-part TikTok video released on Monday, Roan questioned her fans’ actions, asking whether they would treat an ordinary person on the street the same way they have been treating her. The singer revealed that she’s been subjected to being yelled at, harassed, and even stalked by some fans, with her family members also becoming targets. Despite her recent surge in popularity, Roan emphasized that she is still a regular person and that fame does not justify such behavior.

"I don't care that abuse and harassment, stalking, is a normal thing to do to people who are famous, or a little famous," Roan asserted in her video. "That does not make it OK."

Roan, who rose to prominence with her 2023 album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, which recently reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart, called out the sense of entitlement some fans have shown. "It's weird how people think that you know a person just because you see them online or you listen to the art they make," she continued. "I'm allowed to say no to creepy behavior."

The issue came to a head after Roan's high-profile performances at major music festivals, including Coachella and Lollapalooza, where her daytime set was described as the "biggest daytime set we've ever seen" by a festival spokesperson. Despite the acclaim, Roan confessed in a recent podcast interview that she has begun to pull back from pursuing further fame due to the troubling fan behavior.

Reflecting on her career, Roan admitted, "This is the time when, a few years ago, that I said if [there were] stalker vibes, family was in danger, is when I would quit, and we're there. We're there. I've pumped the brakes on anything to make me more known."

Born in 1998 in Willard, Missouri, Roan grew up in modest circumstances as the oldest of four children, spending part of her life in a trailer park. She began her musical journey by uploading her first original song, "Die Young," to YouTube in 2014 under the name Kayleigh Rose. Her music has since resonated with a growing audience, leading to sold-out shows, including a memorable concert at the Andrew J. Brady Music Center in Cincinnati earlier this year.

As her career continues to soar, Roan remains committed to setting boundaries and advocating for respectful behavior from her fans. In the face of her challenges, she has become a voice for artists navigating the complexities of fame and personal safety.