Chappell Roan has divided fans following her sharing a VMA rehearsal photo ahead of cancelled tour dates.
The ‘Good Luck Babe’ singer was on the receiving end of some criticism after news broke that she would be cancelling two upcoming European shows due to “scheduling conflicts”.
“Due to scheduling conflicts, I have had to make the extremely hard decision to cancel my Paris and Amsterdam shows. I have rescheduled my Berlin show to 23 September,” she shared at the end of August. “I am so sorry & very disappointed. I promise I will be back. I’m heartbroken – thank you for understanding.”
Following the last-minute cancellation, some fans began speculating that the shows may have been axed in order for the 26-year-old to rehearse for the VMAs, which will be held in New York on September 11.
This was later confirmed, as Roan took to Instagram earlier this week to share an update. “I am in @vmas rehearsals guys,” she wrote on her Instagram Story on Tuesday (September 3).
chappell i love you but this is a TERRIBLE look when a couple days ago you just said “scheduling conflicts” pic.twitter.com/DksPaLR626
— kit⸆⸉ | CHAPPELL ROAN 15/09
(@romanticelegies) September 3, 2024
Now, fans have been reacting to the update, and many have been left frustrated that the VMAs slot is the reason behind the cancelled European shows.
“I just find it so cringe that you think you’re just allowed to disrespect your fans who spent money on housing and transportation to go see your show just because little miss ma’am preferred to go sing at the vmas,” one commented on Instagram (via Independent), before adding: “Do better!”
Another on X/Twitter agreed, writing: “Chappell Roan cancelling her shows to perform at the VMAs is not it. Such a blatant disregard for her fans.” A third added: “If they had announced it a bit earlier, I could have cancelled my train and hotel for Berlin. Now I’m losing a buttload of money and I am forced to take time off Monday/Tuesday, if I wanna make the new date. I get that things happen but this is so inconsiderate of her team.”
Others expressed how they thought the reason behind the cancellations wasn’t enough to justify the decision to back out at the last minute. “Oh ‘scheduling conflicts’ is always a pretty way of saying ‘we found something more interesting for my career than a little European show’,” one wrote.
chappell roan cancelling her shows to perform at the VMAs is not it. such a blantant disregard for her fans
— court
⸆⸉ 𑁍 (@courtx01) August 29, 2024
Yeah, if they had announced it a bit earlier, I could have cancelled my train and hotel for Berlin. Now I'm losing a buttload of money and I am forced to take time off monday/tuesday, if I wanna make the new date.. I get that things happen but this is so inconsiderate of her team
— Erika
(@enyera_) August 29, 2024
oh "scheduling conflicts" is always a pretty way of saying "we found something more interesting for my career than a little European show"
https://t.co/XvQevxGbpq
— lou ⎕ – PHANTWERP TIT (@AB0UTL0U) August 29, 2024
Some fans, however, were more supportive of the decision, and highlighted how it may not be as big of a deal as some fans were making it out to be.
“If the worst thing Chappell Roan has ever done is advocate her boundaries and cancel a show to play at THE vmas she’s a saint compared to a lot of people in this industry,” one wrote.
“Chappell has 4.4 million Instagram followers. it’s parasocial as hell to think that she’s got whether or not she’s hurting y’all’s feelings on her mind,” another shared. “She’s posting fun shit about her job. She apologised, is she just not supposed to post about the vmas at all?”
Find more fan responses below.
people giving chappell shit for canceling shows for the VMAs when it gives us iconic, career-defining performances like this one that redefined britney’s career …pic.twitter.com/RL0GxEi8Y8
— ☆ kiki
(@imkkbny) September 5, 2024
chappell has 4.4 million instagram followers. it's parasocial as hell to think that she's got whether or not she's hurting y'all's feelings on her mind. she's posting fun shit about her job. she apologized, is she just not supposed to post about the vmas at all?
— el ✧･ﾟ
(@thesubwaymp3) September 3, 2024
if the worst thing chappell roan has ever done is advocate her boundaries and cancel a show to play at THE vmas she’s a saint compared to a lot of people in this industry
— tegan
(@autisticstevie) September 3, 2024
This isn’t the first time that the former NME Cover star has divided the opinions of fans recently. Earlier in the summer, the ‘Pink Pony Club’ singer addressed the “predatory behaviour” of so-called “superfans” in a social media post, stressing that “women don’t owe you shit”.
“This isn’t a group conversation,” she stressed. The post set out that after a decade of building her career, “it’s come to the point that I need to draw lines and set boundaries.”
“I’ve been in too many nonconsensual physical and social interactions and I just need to lay it out and remind you, women don’t owe you shit,” she wrote. “I chose this career path because I love music and art and honouring my inner child, I do not accept harassment of any kind because I chose this path, nor do I deserve it.”
Since then, Roan has also criticised the “weird” and “creepy” behaviour of some fans in a series of TikTok posts, lambasting the “entitled” attitude of some.
The singer released her debut studio album, ‘The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess’, last September to critical acclaim. In a four-star review, NME described it as “a display of Roan’s bold and brazen pen, where she places searing revelations alongside some deliciously cheeky choruses”.
Since then, she achieved her first UK Number One album almost a year after its release – something Elton John congratulated her on.
During her discussion with NME for The Cover in February, Roan reflected on her time moving to Los Angeles and first launching her career.
“I was told this city is demonic and Satanists live here,” she recalled. “But when I got to West Hollywood, it opened my eyes [to the fact] that everything I was afraid of wasn’t always true – especially [what I’d been told] about the queer community. Going to gay clubs for the first time, it felt spiritual.” Was it a huge culture shock? “Yeah, I’d never even seen a drag queen before.”
The post Chappell Roan fans react after she posts VMA rehearsal photos ahead of cancelled gigs appeared first on NME.
