During the MTV era, the life of a celebrity proceeded in the following manner: an individual gains fame, paparazzi pursue the individual, photographs of said individual are auctioned to the highest-paying tabloid, and the cycle repeats. Fans might linger outside hotels and venues seeking autographs. Occasionally, a few stalkers might attempt to obtain a home phone number. Largely, however, being a celebrity was a tangible experience, characterized by evading camera flashes and trying to keep one’s location discreet.
The ’90s and ’00s were infamously not enjoyable periods for celebrities. Now, however, it seems the distinctions between stars and fans have become even more blurred. With personal phones in hand, the need for paparazzi and tabloids has diminished—we can assume the roles of paparazzi and tabloids. Social media allows us to discover not only a celebrity’s location but also that of their family. We can observe their friends, their hangout spots, and which burger place they prefer at 3 p.m. post-celebration (even in the absence of their posts, rest assured, someone nearby will have shared it). Celebrities are perpetually under watch, and reaching a certain level of fame often means sacrificing personal privacy.
This isn’t a life that 26-year-old pop artist Chappell Roan is willing to embrace for herself. On Friday afternoon, she announced on Instagram: “For the past decade, I’ve been relentlessly focusing on my project, and it’s time I establish clear boundaries,” she stated. “I’ve encountered too many unwanted physical and social interactions, so I need to clarify and remind you, women owe you nothing.” She proceeds to mention that when she is on stage or at a press event, she is “working,” but “[in] any other scenario, she is not on the clock.” She adds: “Please stop touching me. Please stop behaving awkwardly with my family and friends… And kindly: do not address me as Kayleigh.”
Chappell isn’t the first celebrity to convey a sentiment similar to “celebrities don’t owe you everything” (in 2016, Justin Bieber ceased fan meet-and-greets because they left him feeling exhausted and “like an exhibit at a zoo”). Nevertheless, she is among the first to make such a firm declaration so early in her career. Around this time the previous year, Chappell Roan was not widely known. Now, her name is familiar, and you’d recognize her even outside of drag. She’s addressing the issue before it advances. Similar to deciding, early on, to not answer work emails outside of office hours or refraining from befriending your boss on social media, Chappell is asserting that when she’s not performing (meaning: not getting paid to perform or appear for work), she need not remain ‘on.’