CULTURE
Op-ed:
The “Fall” of a Midwestern Princess: Why Does Society Turn on Female Musicians at the Height of Their Fame?
By: Annabelle Mistretta Edited by: Rezi Ubogu
Although she has been in the music industry for a decade, Chappell Roan, self-appointed as "your favorite artist's favorite artist," skyrocketed to fame this year with her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwestern Princess. The album depicts growing up as a queer woman and self-discovery through sexuality, love, and turmoil. Not only has Chappell Roan made a name for herself through her music, but also with her 1980s and 2000s fused-drag style. Her style is essential to her image and her identity as a person and artist: she’s queer, out-of-pocket, and authentically proud of who she is. Because of these characteristics and more, many have found comfort in her relatable lyrics masked by powerful ballads. Recently, she has been under fire for several reasons, including canceling shows at the last minute, pleading for more privacy from fans, and refusing to endorse a presidential candidate for the upcoming presidential election. Though many have strong opinions on her recent actions, the hatred she has been receiving at her height of fame is something we have seen many times before. The media often turns on female musicians at the highest points of their careers; the most popular examples of this betrayal exist for Taylor Swift and Britney Spears. Why does this happen, and why don’t we see the same scrutiny towards male musicians?
In February of 2024, I discovered Chappell Roan’s song Casual, which discusses the uncertainty of a romantic relationship. At that point in my life, I found the song relatable and quite comforting. It made me feel less alone, which is what we often look for in music. I fell in love with Chappell’s voice and style, which caused me to explore more of her discography. Overnight, I became her biggest fan and subjected everyone to her music. If you got in my car, The Rise and Fall of a Midwestern Princess was on shuffle, and no, you could not change the music. Chappell Roan entered my life when I needed her the most, and I was proud to witness her rise to fame this year. She was praised for her musical talent, relatable lyrics, drag style, and queer representation in the media.
Chappell Roan was the most loved and celebrated up-and-coming pop star–until she wasn’t. She has been open about her mental health struggles, which is her reasoning for canceling several of her recent performances and concert appearances. She has also expressed that she is overwhelmed by the fans who have tried to take unsolicited photos of her, hug or touch her without permission, and harass her in public. One incident this past summer included a fan stalking Chappell’s family members and refusing to call her by her stage name. Chappell has repeatedly told fans that Chappell is a persona and to separate the persona from true self "out of the drag," known as Kayleigh Rose Amstutz. She has set many boundaries with her fans and the media, which she has received significant backlash for. Many online call her “ungrateful” and tell her to suck it up. Some argue that this is all part of her career choice, which she has worked hard to achieve. Unfortunately, this is not the end of the hate Roan has received.
Recently, Roan received hate for saying she will not endorse a presidential candidate for November’s upcoming election. After Taylor Swift nearly broke the internet with her endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz, dozens of celebrities followed suit. Because Chappell is both queer and a newly-high-profile celebrity, many expected her to do the same as Swift. However, she released a statement saying she does not agree with either the Democratic or Republican Party and feels uncomfortable endorsing either candidate. Though she does have a large platform, it is crucial to remember that it is up to her how she will use it to her advantage. If the media and her “fans” continue to paint her negatively, who knows what could happen?
Chappell Roan is just one of the few female pop musicians who have achieved stardom in the past year. Though Sabrina Carpenter has been in the industry for a decade, she recently became a household name upon the release of her album Short n’ Sweet, where she is unapologetically herself. This album depicts a couple of Carpenter’s romantic endeavors while she embraces her sexuality through cunning, suggestive, discreetly explicit lyrics. Her United States tour began in Columbus on September 23, 2024 and since then, she has received criticism for her skimpy outfits, crude lyrics, and suggestive dances. Though the backlash she is receiving does not measure up to the backlash Chappell Roan, who is arguably more unapologetic than Carpenter, has received, it still proves that once female musicians hit a point of fame, society finds ways to tear them down. In Elijah Johnson’s Double Standards in the Music Industry, he blames this outlook “on the male gaze.” The male gaze, in short, is a heterosexual man’s outlook on the world in a way that pleases him. Laura Mulvey was the first to coin the term in her 1973 paper, Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema. It is important to note that these artists present their sexualities differently as well. Regardless of how these pop stars embrace themselves, they receive backlash – why is it that these critiques are always tied to traditional norms of how a woman can dress, act, and portray herself?
History repeats itself. We have seen the same thing happen over and over again. Endless societal pressures and obsessions, a crazed fan base, and intrusive paparazzi drove Britney Spears to her mental break in 2007. Online hate and a public feud with Kanye West caused Taylor Swift to go into hiding for over a year. Meanwhile, we don’t often see this happening with male musicians. When singer and rapper Chris Brown physically abused Rihanna in 2009, he received little backlash. Two years later, when he released his album, F.A.M.E (Forgiving All My Enemies), the media welcomed him back with open arms, and he even won the “Best R&B Album” Grammy. Similarly, American rapper Pitbull is known for his “Rated R” lyrics and hyper-sexualized and explicit performances, yet no one bats an eye. In June 2023, Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi canceled his tour to focus on his physical and mental health and received praise from the media and fellow artists for being brave enough to do so. He received comments on social media stating, “Sending you all our love Lewis. Nothing to be sorry for and don’t feel like you're letting anyone down because you are not. You sir are a legend and a national treasure. Rest up. Recover and we will all be right beside you.” Another added: “Take care of yourself. That is the most important thing. We will be here when you are ready.”
When Chappell Roan pulled out of a musical festival and canceled a couple of shows for this same reason, she was called weak by the media. After announcing that she would no longer play at those festivals on her Instagram story, fans took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express their discontent. “No cause now I’m so pissed. I spent $150 on a train ticket to come to NYC to see Chappell Roan in this festival and a day before the festival, she cancels her appearance. I’m so angry. I get prioritizing your mental health but also when you commit to something, you follow through,” one X user stated. Another said: "Canceling with a 24h notice AGAIN … Chappell Roan is probably the most unprofessional artist of this new generation I SAID WHAT I SAID.” Female artists are held to a different standard than male artists; just because the times have changed does not mean women are given the same grace as their male counterparts.
Double standards in the music industry are normalized. If a male musician has vulgar lyricism, it goes unnoticed, but when a female musician does the same, it is gross, unladylike, and inappropriate. Society jumps at opportunities to tear down female musicians and is significantly more lenient on male artists. The reinforcement of double standards exists through the gendered norms of the society we have created. Traditional gender roles stress that men need to be assertive, powerful, and strong, while women must be nurturing, submissive, and feeble. Though these roles have evolved, they still affect society’s double standards, impacting every industry. In this sense, when a female musician embraces her sexuality through her actions and lyricism, she is objectified and scrutinized by others and the media because society expects her to be indirect, desireless, and submissive. So, us seeing Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter experience backlash, like many female musicians before them, is tied to the recycling of toxic traditional gender norms limiting female expression and creativity.
Musicians like Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter are human, just like us. They are both young women growing and experiencing life – they just have the world watching their every move. Whether or not you believe they should be held accountable for specific actions, they are human, and it is human nature to make mistakes now and then. It is important to call people out on their behavior, but there is no need to drive people toward their own destruction.

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