Chappell Roan Compares Fame to an ‘Abusive Ex-Husband,’ Reveals Lorde Gave Her a List of Advice
Written by djfrosty on September 16, 2024
Chappell Roan has been open about the downfalls of fame amid her meteoric rise to household-name status this year — but luckily, she has people like Lorde in her corner.
In her The Face cover story published Monday (Sept. 16), the 26-year-old musician opened up about a time the 27-year-old “Green Light” singer came to her rescue during a recent situation that made Roan compare stardom to a toxic relationship. “I feel like fame is just abusive,” Roan told the publication. “The vibe of this – stalking, talking s–t online, [people who] won’t leave you alone, yelling at you in public – is the vibe of an abusive ex-husband. That’s what it feels like. I didn’t know it would feel this bad.”
While crying in an airport bathroom after a man berated her for refusing to sign posters — just one of several instances of toxic fan behavior Roan has endured over the past few months — the Missouri native says she texted Lorde for advice. “She sent me a list of things I should do [in that situation],” Roan continued. “Literally wrote down eight things she wished someone would have told her when she was going through it. And she went through f–king hell. She was a baby!”
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Lorde is one of many female musicians who’ve rallied around Roan this year, in addition to Lady Gaga, Charli XCX, Lizzo, Katy Perry and Phoebe Bridgers, who’ve individually offered her their support since the “Good Luck, Babe!” vocalist’s star exploded this spring. In another recent interview with Rolling Stone, Roan also noted that she and fellow 2024 breakout Sabrina Carpenter have been commiserating over their recent career booms.
“No one understands that it truly falls all on you,” she told The Face of the “Espresso” singer. “No one understands except other artists … Sabrina [Carpenter] even texted me: ‘Hey, I feel crazy. I know you feel crazy.’ So it’s, like, girlies leaning on each other.”
Through it all, the public has watched as Roan has grown more confident speaking out about what makes her uncomfortable. In August, for instance, she called out the “predatory behavior” of certain boundary-crossing fans in a series of posts on social media, and on Sept. 11, she yelled “Shut the f–k up!” at a photographer on the VMAs red carpet before going on to win best new artist during the ceremony.
“They were immediately, immediately supportive,” Roan added of her fellow female pop stars. “It’s been so amazing, because I’m very scared and confused.”
See Roan’s The Face covers below.