Chappell Roan’s name seems to be in the headlines a lot lately, but it’s not because of new music. Many accuse her of being rude, upsetting a child, and disregarding the fans who support her. Where do we draw the line between celebrities being kind and fans overstepping boundaries?
On March 21, soccer player Jorginho posted on Instagram that one of Roan’s bodyguards made his 11-year-old stepdaughter cry.
In his Instagram Story, he claimed his daughter saw Roan at the hotel they were staying at for Lollapalooza Brazil. When the little girl walked by and smiled, a bodyguard approached them and “began speaking in an extremely aggressive manner.” He reportedly warned them about harassment and even threatened to file a complaint with the hotel should they continue.
Fans’ reactions
Right as news of this came out, a lot of fans were quick to jump to Jorginho’s side.
The Internet is not unfamiliar with Roan’s willingness to set boundaries for herself and tell people off. This time, they believed she sent her security to do the work for her.
It’s one thing when it comes to paparazzi at award shows, but it’s another when a child is involved. People online and on social media were not afraid to voice opinions and accuse Roan of being in the wrong.
Roan’s side of the story
A day after the incident, Chappell Roan posted an Instagram video explaining her side of the story.
In the video, she stated that the alleged bodyguard was not part of her personal team. She went on to say she was unaware of any child or mother, and that no one was bothering her.
Roan emphasized she did not send anyone after the girl, stating, “I do not hate fans of my music; I do not hate children. That is crazy.”
Regardless of it not being her personal bodyguard, the singer apologized to the mother and child, saying, “If you felt uncomfortable, that makes me really sad. You did not deserve that.”
Catherine Harding speaks out
On March 22, a few hours after Roan posted her Instagram story, Catherine Harding posted a video going further into detail about her and her daughter’s experience with the bodyguard.
She repeated Jorginho’s claim that her daughter smiled at Roan before the bodyguard approached with aggressive warnings about disrespectful behavior.
Harding admitted in the video, “Even if she did send him or didn’t send him, I don’t know, for me it felt like it really overstepped a boundary.”
She goes on to say that, while she was unsure whether he was Roan’s actual security guard or not, “I think you have a responsibility when you are a celebrity to make sure that the people that work for you and that act on your behalf are acting on your behalf.”
A statement from the bodyguard
Pascal Duvier, the security guard involved in the situation, released a statement on Instagram on March 25.
He came forward and stated, “I take full responsibility for the interactions on March 21st. I was at the hotel on behalf of another individual, and I was not part of the personal security team of Chappell Roan.”
Duvier mentions, “The actions I took were not on behalf of Chappell Roan, her personal security team, her management, or any other individuals.”
If fans needed any more confirmation that the singer was not involved in this interaction, then this was it.
It seemed like that would mark the end of things, and everyone could let this pass. Recently, however, Jorginho posted a second Instagram story to make an update on the situation and clarify some things.
He wrote, “At the time, we acted on the information that was available to us. It became clear that she had no knowledge of what took place at breakfast and had not asked anyone to approach them.”
Jorginho goes on to say how Roan reached out to Harding and their team and was “sympathetic to what had happened.”
So why are fans so quick to attack Chappell Roan?
While this situation blew up at the end of March, I firmly believe that had it been any other celebrity being accused, it would not have been as big a deal as it was.
This situation fit right into the already existing narrative that the singer is “difficult” and “dislikes her own fans.”
Knowing Roan’s history of setting boundaries, fans were less likely to give her the benefit of the doubt.
She has notably stood up for, not only herself and other celebrities’ boundaries, but for women in general.
Back in 2024, Roan posted to Instagram, “I chose this career path because I love music and art, and honoring my inner child. I do not accept harassment of any kind because I chose this path, nor do I deserve it.”
The message can be understood through Roan’s comparison of women wearing certain types of clothing and getting catcalled. She says, “it is not the woman’s duty to suck it up and take it; it is the harasser’s duty to be a decent person, leave her alone, and respect that she can wear whatever she wants and still deserve peace in this world.”
Roan’s outspoken advocacy has sometimes brought criticism, but that hasn’t stopped her from standing up for her boundaries. It’s something to be admired.
What this says about how we see celebrities
While this particular incident with Jorginho’s family and Roan will pass, the way in which we perceive artists and celebrities will stay the same.
News like this involving Roan can raise the question: Is there an obligation to fans that comes with fame?
In today’s digital world, the celebrities we love can feel closer to us than ever. A song, music video, movie, or TV show is just a click away. Plus, with social media, fans are able to see a more personal side to those public figures.
This admiration and repeated exposure can morph into parasocial relationships that make fans feel like they know the artist as a close friend.
Harassment, violence, and stalking are more likely to arise with the need to be close and interact with said celebrities. At the end of the day, there needs to be a reminder that those with larger followings are still human beings and deserve the same respect and privacy as you would any other stranger.
Be a fan, respectfully
Fans tend to hold their favorite celebrities on a higher pedestal and expect something in return for being a devoted supporter.
Some may feel entitled to a celebrity’s time and certain interactions, not taking into account that person’s own feelings and emotions. Meanwhile, the reality is, they don’t owe us anything.
Whether on stage or on the big screen, they are at work and performing is what they do. Outside of that, they are regular humans just trying to go about their day. They don’t know you, and even though it might seem like you do, you don’t know them.
In a perfect world, all celebrity interactions with fans would be mutually kind and welcoming of appreciation. However, everyone has bad days and just wants to be left alone from time to time, and they have a right to that.
Just because they deny taking a photo with fans or signing a poster doesn’t mean they’re being rude or unappreciative. We can’t expect celebrities to be “on” all the time. Their job can be just as exhausting, and it’s not a bad thing if they want some time to themselves.
What should we expect from celebrities?
The basic answer? Human nature.
The pressure of living up to people’s expectations can be a lot. We hold celebrities to a different standard and expect them to be perfect all the time — to always say and do the right things, but that’s unattainable.
Having this false idea of how artists should always behave and treat others, even if they’re not being treated fairly, is impractical.
Like Roan said in her 2024 Instagram post, “I feel more love than I ever have in my life. I feel the most unsafe I have ever felt in my life.” It should never come down to that. Safety shouldn’t have to be a concern. When it does become a concern for an artist, there needs to be a firm set of boundaries put in place to ensure it doesn’t continue.
So, kids being excited to see their favorite celebrities and artists defining their personal limits should be two different things that can coexist with one another.
I’m not saying little girls should be crying for having seen a singer they like; I’m just saying it’s good to keep in mind that celebrities are actual human beings who deserve respect, just like their fans do.
Barbara Spies
April 19, 2026 at 10:57 pm
I thought this was a well written article. Your ideas were easily explained and you have a great understanding of boundaries that are needed for people, which are all different. Good job!