People Hate Chappell Roan For Her "Diva" Behavior, But I’m Here For It

Gone are the days when icons like Madonna or Björk could be full-on divas – bold, proud, and outspoken – without every little detail getting dissected, twisted, and attacked. Women in the music industry are expected to be perfect and kind, they always have to wear a smile and never complain. 

Enter breakout star Chappell Roan, the 26-year-old singer making waves and challenging the very notion of what it means to be a celebrity. You probably know her for her hit song "Good Luck, Babe," her dramatic drag makeup, or her stunning knight gown at the 2024 VMAs. Chappell is unique and stands out; she fits the mold of a famous person, yet people are surprised she isn’t bending over backwards to please anyone.

Unlike Taylor Swift, she’s not endorsing candidates or putting on a politically safe face. Instead, she stated her opinion on the American government, saying, “There are problems on both sides.” It's a simple little comment that most of us can agree with, but it set off a social media firestorm in September. The left came out in droves and slammed Chappell for her stance. Though, in her defense, the Biden-Harris administration has undeniably supported policies linked to wars and genocide, and millions of Americans are struggling to pay for food and rent under their leadership.

Social media users called Chappell's statement an “uneducated cop-out” and accused her of sympathizing with conservatives despite her being an ally. Ironically, in a time when the left champions radicalism and progressive change, Chappell’s refusal to conform to their narrative feels even more radical. When she encouraged fans to use their critical thinking skills, she triggered even more outrage that only proved her point: there’s no room for questioning the left's script, even if your values and your audience are largely aligned. She then made a series of videos and talked about her issues with our government rather than apologizing.

Chappell continued to face accusations of being “ungrateful” or “spoiled” after she asked her fans to stop harassing her. One fan had sexually assaulted Chappell in public. Again, the liberals who criticized her are the same individuals who claim to support mental health, yet they tore her down when she decided to push back against invasive behavior. 

Fame – regardless of the money, love, and admiration – doesn’t grant immunity from exhaustion or frustration. So when Chappell announced that she was canceling two festival appearances, the internet responded with hostility. The comments told her that she couldn't "mental health" her way out of "accountability." In the past, famous musicians struggled with the pressures of fame, and rather than focusing on their mental health, they coped with drugs and reckless behavior. Many of those stars are no longer with us.

Then, when a rude photographer crossed a line at the 2024 VMAs, Chappell stood her ground and yelled at them to “Shut the f*ck up.” She saw that same photographer again weeks later and walked up to him to demand an apology.

At that point, fans said even they couldn’t defend her anymore. But why is it that the left constantly encourages women to speak up, yet when a woman stands up for herself, she is suddenly labeled a “diva” or “too difficult?”

The real issue here seems to be that Chappell Roan doesn’t fit the carefully curated persona of the docile pop star. And I admire this about her. Despite all the hate she gets, Chappell isn’t afraid to go against the grain, especially when she's expected to toe the line or stay silent about her beliefs.

And maybe that’s why her authenticity strikes a nerve with so many people – it’s easier to root for the polished, “nice” version of a celebrity than the real, flawed, outspoken one. Something inside us feels anger the minute we see a famous woman "act out" in public, that is, when she chooses to clap back instead of staying silent. It doesn't feel allowed. We expect celebrities to be kind to everyone and perfect. Or perhaps her ability to assert herself mirrors people's fears about their inability to do the same, leading to their negative responses as a defense mechanism.

I also feel that the left’s activism around being an empowered woman is largely performative. So, the minute they see it in action – like when Chappell demands an apology or condemns the government – they’re instantly triggered. They love the idea of a strong woman, until she makes her own choices that don’t align with theirs. Then suddenly, she's no longer empowered; she's ill-informed and dumb.

Many of the leftists dead set on canceling Chappell wouldn’t last a day in her knee-high boots. They would vehemently apologize to the crowd, bow down, and be riddled with anxiety. They claim to be different, alternative, and rebellious, but they would not survive being ostracized.

Regardless, there are many who praise Chappell for her rawness, with one Reddit user aptly summing it up: “Call her ungrateful, call her spoiled… but I would take that any day over an artist grappling with fame and trying to wear this veneer of impenetrable confidence and perfection.” The only thing I hope for Chappell is that, just as she sees there are problems on all sides of the government, she also recognizes the glaringly obvious issues on both ends of the political spectrum – especially with the leftists who like to put her down.

Closing Thoughts

Chappell's honesty is, in many ways, a throwback to a time when stars weren’t afraid to be messy, imperfect, or even downright "difficult." Like Björk, who famously punched a reporter, or the countless moments when Mariah Carey and Madonna stood their ground against bullying from the press.

To me, Chappell isn’t weak like people say – she’s real, something we desperately need more of. If there’s one thing I've learned from her rise to fame, it's that staying true to yourself is a bigger risk than conforming. And if standing up for yourself, challenging the narrative, and calling out hypocrisy makes you a “diva” in the eyes of many, then maybe we need more divas like Chappell Roan.

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