A year ago, most of the world hadn’t heard of Chappell Roan. Her first single, “Pink Pony Club,” dropped in 2020, and her debut album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” was released in September 2023 to a small audience.
But 2024 has arguably been the year of Chappell — from a Tiny Desk Concert at NPR to opening for Olivia Rodrigo and performing at Coachella and Lollapalooza.
Her unique style — a mix of glam-pop aesthetics and raw openness — has set her apart in the music industry, earning her praise for her bold performances and authentic self-expression. Despite her success, Roan, born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, has spoken openly about the challenges of sudden fame.
In an interview with podcaster Drew Afualo, the singer said she misses “being by [her]self.” At a North Carolina show in June, Roan stopped the show to express her struggles in adjusting to fame, saying she had an “off day.”
On Aug. 23, she took to Instagram to deliver a message to her 4.7 million Instagram followers. She wrote, “When I’m on stage, when I’m performing, when I’m in drag, when I’m in press… I am at work. Any other circumstance, I am not in work mode. I am clocked out.”
The multiple-slide statement also issued a call to action for her fans, specifically “superfans” exhibiting “predatory” behavior.
“I want to love my life, be outside, giggle with my friends, go to the movie theatre, feel safe, and do all the things every single person deserves to do. Please stop touching me. Please stop being weird to my family and friends. Please stop assuming things about me. There is always more to the story. I am scared and tired.”
“And please — stop calling me Kayleigh,” Roan said.
Her post, though met with overwhelming support, sparked a conversation about the often intrusive nature of fandom and celebrity culture. Roan’s candid plea resonated with many, particularly those in the public eye who experience similar invasions of privacy. However, fans should not overlook the seriousness of her message.
It begs the question: what is the obsession with celebrities, and why do fans feel entitled to access every aspect of their lives? From the constant demand for interaction on social media to physical invasions of personal space, this culture of idolization often blurs the line between admiration and harmful behavior.
Roan is not the only celebrity to experience these struggles. In 2023, singer Doja Cat received backlash for saying she did not love her fans because “I don’t even know y’all.”
She lost almost 200,000 Instagram followers for it.
Social media plays a big part in celebrity culture. Fans believe that when celebrities share their life, that’s how they act at face value. The superficialness portrayed on camera, in interviews and in other professional events must be the way they act in real life, right?
Instead of treating them like normal people, fans form parasocial relationships, or emotional connections, with celebrities. Unlike traditional friendships or relationships, these connections are built on an illusion of intimacy. Fans begin to feel entitled to know everything about their idols, leading to boundary violations and unrealistic demands. When celebrities inevitably fail to meet these inflated expectations, fans often feel betrayed, as if a personal relationship has been severed.
The effects of these relationships can be damaging. Celebrities like Roan are left navigating a staggering level of public scrutiny, often sacrificing their personal space and mental well-being to maintain the façade that fans have come to expect. Social media exacerbates this by fostering a 24/7 expectation of accessibility, blurring the lines between professional performance and personal life.
You don’t actually know your favorite celebrity, and they don’t know you. So, enjoy their work from a distance, like a normal fan. You don’t need to cross boundaries to show your admiration — imagine if the roles were reversed.
