Chappell Roan clarifies she’s voting Kamala Harris amid backlash

US singer-songwriter Chappell Roan arrives to attend the MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, on Sept. 11, 2024. Image: AFP/ANGELA WEISS

Breakout US pop star Chappell Roan said Wednesday, Sept. 25, she will vote for Kamala Harris, after coming under criticism when she said she didn’t feel “pressured to endorse someone.”

In a recent interview with The Guardian, Roan said that “I have so many issues with our government in every way.”

“There are so many things that I would want to change. So I don’t feel pressured to endorse someone,” the 26-year-old told the British paper.

“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.”

Late Tuesday Roan posted a TikTok to clarify that her inclination to “question authority and question world leaders”—in this case Vice President Harris as well as President Joe Biden—does not mean she’s voting for a Republican.

“No I’m not voting for Trump, and yes, I will always question those in power,” she said.

But the backlash persisted.

In another video, posted Wednesday, Roan said in an exasperated, expletive-laden video that while she despises Trump, she is disappointed in the Democratic Party, which she said had failed members of the LGBTQ community, the Palestinian people and “every marginalized community in the world.”

“That’s why I can’t endorse,” she said.

“I”m not going to settle for what the options are in front of me,” she said. “Yeah, I’m voting for… Kamala, but I’m not settling for what has been offered, ’cause that’s questionable.”

Earlier this year, Roan — whose debut album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” has seen her soar to fame on hits including “Pink Pony Club” — declined a White House invitation to perform at a Pride event.

“I won’t be a monkey for Pride,” she told Rolling Stone recently,  explaining her decision was in protest of the US government’s support of Israel’s war in Gaza.

Roan, who was born Kayleigh Amstutz and grew up in Missouri, identifies as queer and has cited drag queens as influential on her pop project.

In that same Rolling Stone interview she reiterated that criticism for Harris does not imply support for Donald Trump.

In her twin videos this week, she emphasized that “I want to be part of the generation that changes things for good, because we need it.”

“Actions speak louder than words,” she said. “And actions speak louder than an endorsement.”