Chappell Roan
Chappell Roan denies involvement after Catherine Harding alleged a security confrontation. Raph_PH/Flickr CC BY 4.0

Singer Catherine Harding, known for her hit songs, accused a security guard of 'berating' her and her 11-year-old daughter after an encounter with Chappell Roan in a Sao Paulo hotel. Harding's account states that her daughter had not approached Roan nor was she using her phone at the time. Harding explained that her daughter simply smiled at Roan as she walked past. Harding said her daughter later expressed uncertainty about whether the person she saw was Roan, as she looked somewhat different due to her costume.

This incident prompted Jorginho, Harding's husband and a footballer for Flamengo, to publicly criticise Roan. On Instagram, he claimed her security spoke 'in an extremely aggressive manner' to Harding and her daughter. Jorginho added, 'Without your fans, you would be nothing,' criticising Roan for not appreciating her supporters. The comment was met with mixed reactions from fans and the public.

Chappell Roan, whose real name is Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, responded to the allegations by asserting that neither Ms Harding nor her daughter had approached her, and that the security guard involved was not part of her personal security team.

She explained via Instagram stories that she had not seen the woman or child and was simply sitting at breakfast in her hotel, suggesting that the people involved were also hotel guests. Roan expressed her belief that security should not assume malicious intent without any evidence, emphasising that she had not authorised any interaction between her security and the mother and child. She also conveyed her sadness that the mother and child might have felt uncomfortable, clarifying her stance on fans and children.

Over the course of the controversy, certain criticisms from the past resurfaced, including when fans questioned 'her morals' when she became an ambassador for MAC.

Roan's Role as MAC Cosmetics Global Ambassador

Roan was announced as MAC Cosmetics' new global ambassador in 2025. The Grammy-winning artist expressed her pride in the partnership, stating that MAC has always embraced art, queerness, drag, and self-expression. She said, 'It's about developing these characters through artistry. Growing up in the Midwest, I was always told to tone it down, but that energy is what made me who I am. I want people to feel like they can take up space and express themselves however they want – that your 'too much' is your magic – and that's been in MAC's DNA from the beginning.'

While some fans congratulated Roan on her achievement, others raised concerns. Several Reddit threads discussed her appointment, noting MAC's association with Estee Lauder, which is on the Israel boycott list. Critics argue that Roan's outspoken views on Palestine conflict with her partnership with a brand that supports Israel through its parent company.

Roan's Political Stances and Past Statements

Roan has been vocal about her support for Palestine, especially during the recent Hamas-Israel conflict. Since the attack in southern Israel which resulted in over 1,195 deaths and thousands of casualties in Gaza, Roan has spoken out. She declined an invitation to perform at the White House for Pride, citing the administration's policies on the conflict.

During her set at New York's Governors Ball on 8 June 2024, Roan remarked that she wanted to perform to promote liberty and justice. She wore a Lady Liberty-inspired outfit and quoted the sonnet by Emma Lazarus, emphasising themes of freedom and rights for oppressed groups. Later, in an interview with Rolling Stone, she explained her decision not to perform at the White House. Roan said she initially planned to read Palestinian poetry but was warned by her publicist that doing so could jeopardise her security and family safety.

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