Chappell Roan on election endorsements: “There’s problems on both sides”

AS the US Presidential elections come closer and closer, many are looking to celebrities to find out what their political stances are. Every day, artists are asked: Are you endorsing Kamala Harris or Donald Trump?

One such artist is singer Chappell Roan, who’s known for hit singles like “Good Luck, Babe!” and “HOT TO GO”, especially since many are awaiting her endorsement following Harris’s use of her song, “Feminenomenon”, during her campaign. 

Roan, however, has stated in a recent interview with the publication The Guardian that she refuses to endorse a candidate in the elections to come. 

Issues with the government

In her interview with The Guardian, Roan said: “I have so many issues with our government in every way. There are so many things I would want to change. So I don’t feel pressured to endorse someone. There’s problems on both sides.”

She encouraged people to use their critical thinking skills, and to vote small, focusing on what’s going on in their city. 

Prior to this last June, a clip of Roan went viral online following her performance at the Governor’s Ball Festival in New York City. Here, she explains that she was asked to perform at a Pride event for the White House, but declined the invitation.

In the video, she said: “We want liberty, justice, and freedom for all. When you do that, that’s when I’ll come.”

In an interview with magazine Rolling Stone, Roan explained that she declined the invite particularly because of the government’s support of Israel in their conflict with Gaza.

She added that she had initially considered going to the event, but instead of performing, she’d planned to read poetry from Palestinian women.

“I was trying to do it as tastefully as I could because all I wanted to do was yell,” she said.

“I had to find something that’s tasteful and to the point and meaningful, and not make it about me and how I feel.”

She also clarified that her declining the invitation was in no way a show of support for Donald Trump, nor was it an indication that she was a Republican or in support of Republicans. 

“It is not so black and white that you hate one and you like the other,” she explained.

“No matter how you say it, people are still going to be pissed for some f*cking reason. I’m not going to the White House because I am not going to be a monkey for Pride. And thank God I didn’t because they just made a huge statement about trans kids a couple weeks ago.”

Rolling Stone explains that this was in reference to a spokesperson from the White House saying that gender-affirming surgery should be limited only to transgender adults, though this statement was retracted a month later.

On her political views, Roan added: “I’m pretty “Fuck the government and fuck everything that’s going on right now.” I don’t have a side because I hate both sides, and I’m so embarrassed about everything going on right now.”

She does, however, encourage people to vote, saying that now, more than ever, it’s important to use it. She will also continue to use her platform as a way to protect people’s civil rights, particularly those of the LGBTQ+ community. 

Reactions online

Since Roan has made these statements, there have been mixed reactions to her political stances.

With regard to why she hasn’t endorsed Kamala Harris, one user on X (formerly Twitter) writes: “I’m tired of artists like Chappell Roan profiting off of queer and drag culture and then refusing to do the bare minimum when it comes to standing up for LGBTQ+ rights because she’s probably afraid of getting canceled by a small portion of the internet or is just uneducated.”

Many fans, however, came to her defense in the replies to this tweet. 

“It’s pretty homophobic to label the queer people who won’t endorse a genocidal, transphobic politician as traitors to the community,” one user wrote.

“Grow the f*ck up.”

Another said: “She employs local queer artists in every single town she plays which includes small conservative towns. She gives small queer artists jobs and platforms. What have you done for your community?”

Others also reminded people that being famous doesn’t mean you have to endorse a candidate, nor does it mean that you have to share your political views online. 

On this issue, one user on X wrote that they were tired of people ignoring the importance of intersectional solidarity, especially during a genocide, and not doing the bare minimum to oppose this.

He adds that Chappel Roan understands this – the sentiment that “None of us is free until all of us are free.”

Another explained that Roan has constantly donated proceeds to Palestine, and declined performing at the White House because they had been trying to pink-wash her.

“She’s extremely political and this quote [has been] cherry-picked out of context; she’s criticizing the engine of celebrity endorsement and [is] asking us to engage directly,” they wrote.