Pop Singer Chappell Roan Declines White House Pride Invitation, Advocates for Justice and Rights During Governors Ball Performance

Pop singer Chappell Roan made a bold statement during her performance at New York City‘s Governors Ball music festival, disclosing that she turned down an invitation to sing at the White House‘s Pride festivities. Roan, known for her album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, shared her decision before launching into the song My Kink is Karma.

Appearing on stage as the Statue of Liberty in a unique outfit, Roan passionately addressed the audience, emphasizing the importance of liberty, justice, and freedom for all. She made a poignant reference to the statue’s inscription, highlighting the relevance of those values to trans rights, women’s rights, and freedom for oppressed individuals in occupied territories, notably mentioning Israel and Palestine in her speech.

Roan’s stance drew both praise and criticism on social media, with fans commending her advocacy for marginalized communities while some questioned why she did not use more explicit language in her address. Notably, Canadian poet Rupi Kaur also declined a White House invitation previously over concerns about U.S. support for Israeli military actions in Gaza.

The incident involving Roan adds her to a list of artists who have declined White House invitations from different administrations, including performers like Elton John and Celine Dion during Donald Trump‘s inauguration in 2017, some of whom later performed at Joe Biden‘s ceremony in 2021.

Reflecting on past instances of artists using their platform to convey messages, the article referenced a notable incident involving a Canadian artist during a 1972 gala attended by Richard Nixon. This historical reference highlighted the impact of artists in challenging political establishments through their artistry or public statements.

Written by Chris Iorfida with reporting by Kevin Maimann, the article further underscores the varied responses from artists to political invitations and the significance of using one’s voice for advocacy on critical issues.