Earlier this month, Chappell Roan sparked backlash when she refused to endorse a candidate in the 2024 presidential election.
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During an interview with the Guardian, Chappel said there are “problems on both sides” when it comes to the Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, and the Republican candidate, former president Donald Trump.
“I have so many issues with our government in every way,” she explained at the time. “There are so many things that I would want to change. So I don’t feel pressured to endorse someone.”
Chappell went on to encourage people to do their own research and make informed decisions as she added: “There’s problems on both sides. I encourage people to use your critical thinking skills, use your vote — vote small, vote for what’s going on in your city.”
Chappell, who is very vocal about LGBTQ+ rights and supports organizations like For The Gworls, The GLO Center, and The Trevor Project, then specified what changes she would most like to see, saying: “Trans rights. They cannot have cis people making decisions for trans people, period.”
After the interview was published, Chappell’s refusal to endorse anybody triggered controversy on social media, with some even speculating that she must secretly be planning to vote for Trump.
In a TikTok video, Chappell made it clear that she would not be voting for Trump as she doubled down on her initial statements and called for people to recognize the nuance in what she is saying.
TikTok @chappellroan / Via tiktok.com
“I have encouraged people to use critical thinking skills, learn about what they’re voting for, learn about who they’re voting for, and ask questions, and it’s being completely taken out of context, per usual,” she began.
“There is nuance to what I say in interviews, and I think it’s important that people use critical thinking,” Chappell went on. “I think it’s important for me to question authority, question world leaders, and question myself. Question my algorithm, question if some person that tweeted something about someone else is even true.”
“It’s important to question because that’s how, I think, we move forward,” she added. “This is my third election in voting, and the world is changing so rapidly and I want to be part of the generation that changes things for good because we need it.”
Chappell then said: “If you come to my shows, if you read my full interviews, if you literally know anything about me and what I stand for, you know that this is not lip service. This is not virtue signaling. My actions have always paved the way for my project.”
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“Actions speak louder than words, and actions speak louder than an endorsement,” she explained, before reading her full Guardian quote for those who hadn’t seen the wider context of what she said.
Chappell then went one step further, clarifying: “So, hear from my mouth, if you’re still wondering: No, I’m not voting for Trump, and yes, I will always question those in power and those making decisions over other people.”
“I will stand up for what’s right and what I believe in, and it’s always at the forefront of my project,” she concluded, before quipping: “And I’m sorry that you fell for the clickbait.”
In addition to her passion for LGBTQ+ rights, Chappell is also a vocal supporter of Palestine and has previously spoken out against the US government’s support of Israel.
“I had picked out some poems from Palestinian women,” she explained. “I was trying to do it as tastefully as I could because all I wanted to do was yell. I had to find something that’s tasteful and to the point and meaningful, and not make it about me and how I feel.”
