Chappell Roan's Political Neutrality Ignites Fan Base Controversy

 

Kamala Harris' bid for the presidency has garnered endorsements from various pop luminaries—most recently, vocalists Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish pledged their support to the Vice President and Democratic nominee—however, one particular chart-topper, whose feminist melodies and "Midwest Princess" aesthetic the meme-embracing Harris campaign has enthusiastically appropriated, has indicated she will not be among them.

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Chappell Roan, the 26-year-old "Good Luck, Babe!" songstress from Missouri, informed the Guardian in an interview published Friday that she has no intention of endorsing any candidate prior to the November election, stating that there are "issues on both sides."

The remark has divided social media users—some applauding her stance, others criticizing her for being "pusillanimous" and accusing her of false equivalency and failing to champion the LGBT community given the explicitly anti-queer agenda of Harris' Republican adversary former President Donald Trump.

"I have numerous grievances with our government in every aspect," Roan told the Guardian. "There are myriad things I would desire to alter. Thus, I do not feel compelled to endorse anyone. There are issues on both sides. I encourage people to employ your critical thinking faculties, utilize your vote—vote locally, vote for what's transpiring in your municipality."

The Harris campaign hasn't hesitated to associate itself with Roan's popularity. In July, mere days after President Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race and Harris assumed the mantle of Democratic candidate, the campaign disseminated on social media a snippet of Roan's 2023 track "Femininomenon." And in August, following Harris' announcement of Minn. Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, the campaign began retailing a camouflage cap styled after Roan's "Midwest Princess" merchandise.

However, Roan's withholding of her endorsement shouldn't be entirely unexpected, given that the singer—known for championing the LGBT community in her music and performances, and who fundraises for Palestinian aid—has previously taken political stances against the Biden-Harris administration, particularly regarding issues of transgender rights and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

At the 2024 Governors Ball in New York in June, Roan revealed that she had declined an invitation to perform at the White House's Pride festivities. "We desire liberty, justice, and freedom for all," she stated. "When you accomplish that, that's when I'll make an appearance." Attired in a Statue of Liberty costume on stage, Roan alluded to Emma Lazarus' poem on the monument: "But in case you had forgotten what's inscribed on my dainty toes: 'Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free,'" she said. "That signifies freedom in trans rights, that signifies freedom in women's rights, and ... it especially signifies freedom for all oppressed people in occupied territories."

Roan later elucidated to Rolling Stone that she did not wish "to be a performing monkey for Pride," summarizing her political outlook as "I'm pretty, 'F--- the government, and f--- everything that's transpiring right now.' I don't align with either side because I detest both sides, and I'm so mortified about everything occurring at present."

News of Roan's recent non-endorsement, however, has been met with negative reactions online. "Okay so she's a Republican understood," reads a post on X with 4 million views. "You can't appropriate drag aesthetics and embrace your sexuality and then feign that the party that would criminalize our happiness is equivalent to the one who safeguards it," another social media user posted. "Chappell Roan's capacity to be an incredibly refreshing voice of reason one moment and then the most irritating, ignorant, humorless eccentric the next moment truly warrants study," said another. "Tfw you don't want to alienate your leftist fanbase OR your conservative family so end up just sounding obtuse :(" said another.

Others have justified Roan's reluctance to endorse Harris. "chappell roan is a vocal advocate for palestine so everyone asserting she's a closet republican for not endorsing harris needs to remove their finger from the quote button and comprehend why a gen z who's been in the spotlight for less than a year might not wish to align with neolibs," one user posted on X. "She's critiquing the machinery of celebrity endorsement and imploring us to engage directly," said another. "Cease harassing Chappell Roan," said another. "She's not causing harm by doing her own thing and refusing to join political cults."

For her part, Roan told Rolling Stone: "It is not so black and white that you abhor one and you favor the other." And she's also made it clear that she's not advocating for people to disengage. "At present, it's more crucial than ever to exercise your vote, and I will do whatever is necessary to protect people's civil rights, especially the LGBTQ+ community," she said, even adding: "I feel fortunate to be alive during an incredibly historical epoch when a woman of color is a presidential nominee."

On Tuesday, Roan posted a video on TikTok to elucidate her views that she said had been "taken out of context." She emphasized, "no, I'm not voting for Trump," while maintaining that it's important to "question authority."

"There is nuance to what I express in interviews," she said. "If you literally know anything about me and for what I advocate, you know that this is not lip service, this is not virtue signaling ... Actions speak louder than words, and actions speak louder than an endorsement."