Chappell Roan is fierce all around, whether through her larger-than-life music, drag-inspired fashion, or how she publicly stands up for herself. While she has spoken her mind multiple times, the Grammy winner recently opened up about the constant criticism she receives and how it sits with her during a conversation with SZA for Interview magazine.
“I guess I wondered if you gave a fuck about the backlash,” the SOS singer asked, to which Chappell responded, “I didn’t, until people started hating me for me and not for my art.”
The “Pink Pony Club” hitmaker, whose real name is Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, continued, “When it’s not about my art anymore, it’s like, ‘They hate me because I’m Kayleigh, not because they hate the songs that I make.’ That’s when it changed.”
She added that while people know her as her public, on-stage persona, they don’t know who she really is deep down. “But when things are taken out of context, people assume so much about you. I didn’t realize I’d care so much. When it comes to my art, I’m like, ‘Bitch, you can think whatever you want. You are allowed to hate it with all your guts,’” she shared. “But when it comes to me and my personality, it’s like, ‘Damn. Am I the most insufferable bitch of our generation?’”
SZA, who initially rose to fame in the 2010s because of her booming music career, shared a similar sentiment. Upon hearing Chappell’s confession, the One of Them Days star revealed she “felt relieved” that she “gives a fuck” and reassured her that it’s beautiful to feel deeply.
“I felt like I was a punk bitch for feeling the way that I feel, because I’m just like, ‘Oh, maybe I’m just not cut out for this shit,’” SZA said, referencing her fame. “Because everybody else who’s cut out for this shit doesn’t give a fuck. But that’s not true.”
“The Giver” singer then said that reading backlash aimed at her sometimes brings her to tears. “It makes me cry,” she admitted. “I don’t know if it will ever feel okay to hear someone say something really hateful about me.”
Elsewhere in the interview, the stars chatted about believing in magic and gushed about their mutual admiration for each other. Earlier this year, SZA reacted to Chappell naming her as a dream collaboration on Call Her Daddy, saying, “Actually didn't believe this quote when I saw it written til I saw it come out her mouth jus now CAUSE DEAD ASS SAME.”
She added, “pls we must.” And with that, we will be (im)patiently waiting for an inevitable collab from these icons.
