Singer Chappell Roan is calling out fans for taking their “creepy” behavior too far, saying she and some of her family members have been stalked and harassed as a result of her fame.
The 26-year-old artist, who skyrocketed in popularity this year after years of cultivating a more niche fan base, posted two videos on TikTok on Monday in which she expressed contempt for fans who feel entitled to someone’s attention or time just because they are famous.
“I don’t care that abuse and harassment, stalking, whatever, is a normal thing to do to people who are famous or a little famous, whatever,” Roan said in one video. “I don’t care that it’s normal. I don’t care that this crazy type of behavior comes along with the job, the career field I’ve chosen. That does not make it OK, that doesn’t make it normal. That doesn’t mean that I want it, that doesn’t mean that I like it.”
Roan, whose real name is Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, exploded onto the music scene earlier this year after the release of her song “Good Luck, Babe.” Amplified by social media platforms like TikTok embracing a number of tracks off of her album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” Roan went on to play for a string of massive festival crowds.
But many celebrities have shared how the fan fervor can take a toll on their mental health. Parasocial relationships, which refer to one-sided connections with celebrities or fictitious characters, can often lead to added scrutiny and pressure for celebrities thrust in the limelight.
In response to Roan’s video, singer Lizzo shared her own encounter with a fan who she said chased her down because she wanted to take a photo with the singer.
“‘Give me my photo’ — that energy is wild, and it’s something I don’t think anyone will understand unless it happens to them,” Lizzo said in the video.
Roan has the right to feel how she’s feeling and harassment is “not what you signed up for” when becoming an artist, Lizzo said.
Fan entitlement has become a topic of discourse online, especially with the rise of stan accounts, which are accounts created by fans on social media dedicated to documenting every detail about a celebrity. In recent years, fan etiquette has also become a rising concern at concerts, with several instances of fans throwing stuff at artists on stage.
After Roan posted the videos, she received a slew of support from fans in the comments section. Many said that they feel fans shouldn’t encroach on her personal space and that she is entitled to set her own boundaries. Some pushed back, suggesting that the fan interactions come with the job of being famous.
A spokesperson for Roan did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
The artist, nicknamed the Midwest Pop Princess by some, has previously been vocal about how the rapid fame has given her pause.
“People have started to be freaks, [they] follow me and know where my parents live, and where my sister works,” she told TikTok creator Drew Afaulo on an episode of the podcast “The Comment Section” in July. “This is the time when a few years ago when I said that if [there were] stalker vibes or my family was in danger, I would quit. And we’re there. We’re there.”
She has also been public about her diagnosis with Type 2 bipolar disorder. In 2022, she posted on Instagram about how being active on social media while promoting her music has led her to need intensive therapy to stay balanced.
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