Chappell Roan clarifies stance on the US presidential election: “Actions speak louder than an endorsement”
Chappell Roan has clarified her stance on the forthcoming US presidential election, after previously stating that she feels “no pressure” to officially endorse a candidate.
Last Friday, the singer-songwriter told The Guardian she has chosen not to back Donald Trump or Kamala Harris, arguing that there are “problems on both sides”. She said: “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. There’s problems on both sides.”
Now, Roan has expanded on the interview with a TikTok video published last night (September 24). She prefaced the video by saying that she has “encouraged people to use critical thinking skills”, as she did in her Guardian interview, and to “learn about what they’re voting for” and “ask questions”.
However, the popstar added that her answers were “being completely taken out of context, per usual,” and that “there is nuance” to what she says in interviews. “I think it’s important for me to question authority, question world leaders, question myself, question my algorithm, question if some person that tweeted something about someone else is even true,” she said.
“It’s important to question because that’s how I think we move forward. 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,” she further elaborated.
“If you come to my shows, if you read my full interviews, if you literally know anything about me and for what I stand for, you know that this is not lip service, this is not virtue signaling, that my actions have always paved the way for my project and the people who really know me. Actions speak louder than words, and actions speak louder than an endorsement.”
Further in the clip, she emphasises that she’s “not voting for Trump”, and she “will stand up for what’s right and what I believe in”. “I’m sorry that you fell for the clickbait,” she concluded.
@chappellroan
In the Guardian interview, Roan went on to say that she wants to see a change in trans rights in the US. “They cannot have cis people making decisions for trans people, period,” Roan argued.
Of the two candidates, Harris has been a longtime advocate for trans rights and the LGBTQ+ community. She has also featured Roan’s music in her campaign, including the song ‘Femininomenon’.
Roan previously protested against President Biden’s administration by declining an invitation from The White House to perform for a Pride event. “This is a response to the White House, who asked me to preform for Pride. We want liberty, justice, and freedom for all. When you do that, that’s when I’ll come,” she said at the 2024 Governors Ball 2024:
Meanwhile, a host of other stars most notably Taylor Swift and Charli XCX have endorsed Harris as their presidential candidate.
Harris has since shared that she is “very proud” of the former’s endorsement while the latter’s tweet was adopted by the Democrat nominee’s campaign team.
Billie Eilish and Finneas also recently championed Harris while Eilish’s ‘When the Party’s Over’ recently featured in the Democrat’s Ad on reproductive care.
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Daniel Peters
NME
