Chappell Roan performs during the first stop on the “Guts” tour at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, Calif., Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. Photo: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK
Chappell Roan’s killer album “Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” and her latest single “Good Luck Babe!” were indisputably the songs of the summer, catapulting her to being a bona-fide pop star. From bold looks, heartwarming moments, and an incredible performance, Roan lived up to her reputation as “your favorite artist’s favorite artist” at the 2024 VMAs.
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Standing up for herself on the red carpet
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Roan has been increasingly vocal about her boundaries (and people invading them) in the last few weeks. On the red carpet going into the VMAs, she appeared to have to do so again.
When Roan adjusted her dress, a photographer was heard on video saying, “Shut the f*ck up,” to which Roan responded, “You shut the f*ck up,” while pointing at him. “Don’t. Not me, b*tch.”
Fans were initially confused by the interaction, but a video from a different angle, obtained by the British outlet Metro, showed the photographer saying, “I’m not going to shut the f*ck up, she missed her spot”—seemingly referring to Roan missing her mark for the photos. Roan turns around to confront the photographer, who then starts to say, “Your publicist…” before being interrupted again by Roan.
Roan talked about the incident with Entertainment Tonight after the red carpet, saying, “I think for someone who gets a lot of anxiety around people yelling at you, the carpet is horrifying, and I yelled back. I yelled back! You don’t get to yell at me like that.”
Glamorous red carpet look
Roan’s red carpet look itself was a lovely see-through dress from Y/Project’s fall 2024 collection. Foreshadowing her medieval costume change later in the night, she wore a green robe from the 17th century and her own carpet, which she said is “600 years old.”
Completing the look was a large cross necklace (a possible callback to her Christian upbringing) and an actual sword. Roan’s makeup was Renaissance-inspired, and her makeup artist, Andrew Dahling, told CNN that the look was inspired by “If Joan of Arc was a glamour girl.”
Needless to say, she slayed.
Roan gets love from drag icons
Drag Race season 15 winner Sasha Colby introduced Roan, saying, “Pop music is inclusive. No matter what you look like, who you love, it’s meant for everyone. And no one has revitalized that spirit more than this next artist. You have all watched her blow up, the midwest princess is in the house! Your favorite drag queen’s favorite artist, here is my daughter, Chappell Roan!”
Roan is a huge fan of Colby. Her description of herself as “your favorite artist’s favorite artist” is inspired by Colby’s famous self-description, “Your favorite drag queen’s favorite drag queen.” Colby has also performed at Roan’s shows.
Before the show, another Drag Race contestant, Plane Jane, also paid homage to Roan by dressing as her. Plane Jane had previously called Roan’s love for drag “performative” in a now-deleted X post, but Plane told Outthat she “Actually, sort of wanted to redeem myself in the eyes of Chappell stans, and show that I’m one of them.”
“I am obsessed with Chappell Roan. I live and breathe, and inject Chappell Roan straight into my veins,” she continued.
Roan’s show-stopping performance
Roan literally set the stage on fire during a powerful performance of her hit “Good Luck Babe!” sung while donning chainmail armor and a crossbow surrounded by knights, showing off a potential new “alter-ego,” Roan of Arc.
Her heartfelt acceptance speech
Roan won her first ever VMA for “Best New Artist.” Still donning her armor, Roan brought her diary to the microphone and dedicated her award “to all the drag artists who inspired me. And I dedicate this to queer and trans people that fuel pop all around.”
She continued the dedication, “To the gays who dedicate my songs to someone they love… or hate. And thank you to the people who are fans, who listen to me, who hear me when I share my joy and my fears. Thank you for listening.”
One last shoutout went to “all the queer kids in the Midwest.” She said: “[If you are] watching right now, I see you, I understand you, because I’m one of you. And don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t be exactly who you want to be, b*tch.”
“For all the queer kids in the midwest watching right now, I see you, I understand you, because I’m one of you, and don’t ever let anyone tell that you can’t be exactly who you wanna be, bitch.” pic.twitter.com/BkF3UOlg2Z
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