“I don’t accept being touched or followed.”

Medieval armor, decor in flames, dancers with swords. Chappelle Roan’s performance on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 11 justified the annual high of American pop culture. in the public consciousness and on social networks. But if they delivered the 26-year-old American’s show well, it was another video of her that went viral the next day. Arriving on the event’s red carpet dressed as a priestess from another age and armed (already) with a sword, Chappell Roane snapped at a photographer who asked who knew who to “shut down.” “You shut up”, musician. snarled, one nail adorned with dangerous spikes in the direction of the person concerned. If we haven’t (yet) heard the latter’s answer, Chappell Roane immediately continued: Not me, bitch.” Atmosphere.

“It’s very heavy to carry and quite scary,” he explained later on the microphone Entertainment Weeklywho asked him about the “dra”. “For someone who gets a lot of anxiety when people yell at you, the (red) carpet is terrifying, and I yelled back. I screamed, and no one has the right to scream at me like that.”

The limits of glory

A few weeks ago, Chappell Roan already made headlines with a lengthy post on his Instagram account on August 24, explaining that he intends to keep his extremely die-hard fans at bay; project and I get to the point where I have to draw boundaries and define (…). I’ve been through too many physical and social interactions and I just have to say and remind you that women don’t owe you anything.” Condemning the “harassment” as “not worthy”, the singer added. “When I’m on stage, when I’m performing, when I’m in drag, when I’m at a professional event, when I’m in the press… I’m working. . (…) I don’t agree with the idea that I owe a reciprocal exchange of energy, time or attention to people I don’t know, don’t trust, or who don’t trust me “are afraid, only because they express admiration”. .

And to those who would answer that he sought it after all, Chappell Roan wrote: “I welcome the success of this project, the love I feel and the gratitude I feel. What I don’t accept are shadowy people being stalked or stalked.” And ending by emphasizing his words. “Please stop touching me. Stop being weird around my family and friends.” And also. “Stop calling me Kaylee!”

From Missouri to Los Angeles

Indeed, Kayleigh Rose Amstutz (her real name) has gone all out to be a pop star. Born in Willard, a suburb of Springfield, Missouri, a town sometimes nicknamed the “Bible Belt Buckle.” Editor’s note) thanks to her large evangelical community, the young woman grew up in a conservative Christian environment with a veterinarian mother and a nurse father.

Consequently, Kayleigh is off to a fast start. Tried (unsuccessfully) to participate in the show since the age of 10 on the piano America has talent On the 14th, post song covers directly to YouTube. It was one of his “Die Young” compositions that began to gain attention in 2014. A young girl goes to New York to hit the iron and tour the concert hall while it’s hot. He signed with Atlantic and released his first EP. In 2016, she took on the stage name Chappell (the last name of her grandfather, who died of a brain tumor that same year) Roan (a nod to her grandfather’s favorite song, “The Strawberry Roan,” a “strawberry-colored pony”). Editor’s note) and a character, a strange and colorful creature whose setting in Los Angeles in 2018 gives him complete freedom of expression. On the American podcast Q with Tom PowerIn October 2023, he explains that he likens himself to a drag, who he finally dares to be with to be himself. And it affords itself a luxurious look. Her main inspirations are the medieval banshee, the crazy fairy, or America’s quirky little bride wearing a candy pink Stetson or pairing parka dresses with outrageous makeup.

strange princess

Chappell is enjoying her first success of 2020 with Pink Pony Club, A title produced by Dan Nigo (who would become her constant collaborator), inspired by her desire to become a gogo dancer in Los Angeles; The baroque dance-pop title, with a chorus that several people have to repeat with their hands in the air, is an anthem to being yourself and wanting to be the queen of California nights, regardless of gender or background. But the following singles did not follow. dropped by his label, Chappell Roan had to work odd jobs (production assistant, barista, donut seller) to survive. But don’t give up.

He will release his next titles as an independent artist. And it works. “Femininomenon,” a sassy pop trope, expresses the “confusion” she feels about having sex with men, she explains to Cherwell, Oxford’s student magazine, in August 2022. “Something’s not connecting. Whereas with women it is easy, different and wonderful. it is a phenomenon.” The ethereal ballad “Accidental” is about a long-distance relationship that quickly fizzles out. Everyone is gathered The Rise and Fall of a Midwestern Princess (The Rise and Fall of a Midwestern Princess)her first album, released in September 2023, on the cover of which she appears as the sub-prefectural Miss America in a closed dress, tiara and kabuki-style makeup, her gaze is sincere, but she is already 1000 years old.

Her inspirations are as many as they are obvious, from Kate Bush to Lady Gaga via Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac or Florence and the Machine, for the esotericism of the stadium; all covered in a pop polish that shines enough to make streaming platforms’ algorithm panic. Chappelle Roan’s career took off, she embarked on her first world tour (in which she had the brilliant idea of ​​theming each date so that her audience would dress in unison) and took advantage of a new springboard when she was chosen to open for Olivia. Rodrigo around the world. But it’s a new composition that takes her from princess to contender for the title of the new queen of pop; Good luck deartitle with 1970s-style synths and a chorus that needs to be repeated (too), hands in the air and all in unison. On the cover, the young woman appears with a medieval headdress and… a muzzle. The title, by its own admission, refers to “compulsive heterosexuality,” specifically the need queer people feel to conform to norms for social acceptance that would dictate that they are not gay in the first place. To those who refuse to accept this, Chappell Roan says: “Good luck, kid. »

Strong head

Chappel’s followers are increasing: Coachella, Lollapalooza… The musician is at all major American festivals. At the Governor’s Ball in New York, she revealed that she even turned down the White House to celebrate Pride Month, NBC reported. In the guise of the Statue of Liberty on stage, she explains that she will come only when freedom and justice reign for everyone, especially trans people, women… “And especially for all the oppressed peoples in the occupied territories”. in September when she was on the cover Rolling StoneShe told the magazine that apart from the fact that she does not want to support the government out of pride, she would like to read poems by Palestinian women. But his agent advised him against it for safety reasons.

Concerned about the Biden administration’s stance against minor sex reassignment surgeries, Chappell Roan has not yet publicly announced where she will vote in the next US election. But announced Rolling Stoneafter Kamala Harris ran for the Democratic nomination, that it was important to vote, that she would do “whatever she can to protect people’s civil rights, especially in the LGBTQ+ community” and that she “feels lucky to be alive” : an unimaginable time in history to have a woman of color running for president.”

In the meantime, Chappell Roan intends to lead his own army of fans. Less smooth than Taylor Swift, more “fun” than Billie Eilish, but whose songs cover a wide and extremely effective pop spectrum, she’s in chain mail and a matching balaclava, taken from Paco Rabanne’s spring-summer 2024 collection, Jeanne. D’Arc disco style as he took the stage to receive the award for the best new artist of the year. Reading a few pages from his diary as a speech. And I dedicate it to all the queer and trans people everywhere who liven up pop music, to the gay people who themselves dedicate my songs to someone they love… or hate. And thank you to the people who are fans, who listen to me, listen to me when I share my joy and fear. Thank you for listening to me.” But above all, please don’t get too close to him.