Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign has received endorsements from several pop stars, but one prominent singer, whose music and image the Harris campaign has embraced, has said she won’t be endorsing anyone in the upcoming election.
Chappell Roan, the 26-year-old singer of “Good Luck, Babe!” told the Guardian in an interview published Friday that she isn’t planning to endorse anyone before the November election, explaining that there are “problems on both sides.”
This statement has sparked debate on social media, with some praising Roan’s stance while others criticize her for being “noncommittal” and accuse her of false equivalence, especially given the explicitly anti-LGBTQ stance of Harris’ Republican opponent, former President Trump.
“I have so many issues with our government in every way,” Roan told the Guardian. “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. I encourage people to use your critical thinking skills, use your vote—vote small, vote for what’s going on in your city.”
The Harris campaign has made efforts to connect with Roan’s popularity. In July, shortly after entering the presidential race, the campaign posted a clip of Roan’s 2023 song “Femininomenon” on social media. In August, after announcing her running mate, the campaign began selling a camouflage cap inspired by Roan’s “Midwest Princess” merchandise.
Roan’s decision to withhold her endorsement is not entirely unexpected, considering her previous political stances against the Biden-Harris administration, particularly regarding transgender rights and the ongoing conflict in Gaza. She has publicly supported the LGBT community in her music and performances.
At the 2024 Governors Ball in New York in June, Roan stated that she had declined an invitation to perform at the White House’s Pride festivities. “We want liberty, justice, and freedom for all,” she said. “When you do that, that’s when I’ll come.” Dressed in a Statue of Liberty costume on stage, Roan referred to Emma Lazarus’ poem on the monument: “But in case you had forgotten what’s etched on my pretty little toes: ‘Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free,’” she said. “That means freedom in trans rights, that means freedom in women’s rights, and … it especially means freedom for all oppressed people in occupied territories.”
Roan later explained to Rolling Stone that she did not want “to be a monkey for Pride,” summarizing her political outlook as “I’m pretty, ‘F— the government, and f— everything that’s going on right now.’ I don’t have a side because I hate both sides, and I’m so embarrassed about everything going on right now.”
Online reactions to Roan’s non-endorsement have been largely negative. Some commenters assume she is a Republican, while others criticize her for borrowing from drag aesthetics and then seemingly supporting a party that would criminalize LGBTQ rights. Others point out her past stances against the Biden-Harris administration, accusing her of hypocrisy.
However, some have defended Roan’s reluctance to endorse Harris. Some users point to her vocal support of Palestine and suggest that younger generations, particularly those who have gained prominence recently, might not feel compelled to align with mainstream political figures. Others praise Roan for criticizing celebrity endorsements and encouraging direct political engagement.
For her part, Roan told Rolling Stone: “It is not so black and white that you hate one and you like the other.” She also emphasized that she is not advocating for political apathy. “Right now, it’s more important than ever to use your vote, and I will do whatever it takes to protect people’s civil rights, especially the LGBTQ+ community,” she said, adding: “I feel lucky to be alive during an incredibly historical time period when a woman of color is a presidential nominee.”
