Chappell Roan canceled his All Things Go festival shows scheduled for this weekend in New York City and Washington at the last minute, citing his mental health.
“I apologize to the people who have been waiting to see me in New York and DC this weekend at All Things Go, but I can't perform,” the “Pink Pony Club” singer wrote on her Instagram Story on Friday. “Things have become overwhelming in the last few weeks and I'm really feeling it.
“I feel the pressure to prioritize a lot of things right now and I need a few days to prioritize my health. I want to be present when I perform and give the best shows possible. Thank you for understanding,” he wrote. “I'll be back soon xox.”
Representatives for Roan and the festival did not immediately respond Friday to The Times' requests for comment.
While most social media commenters wished the 26-year-old well and hoped she was in good health, others made their disappointment clear.
“We didn't find out that Chappell Roan canceled his appearance on All Things Go NYC while he was already on the plane to New York,” one TikTok read, ranking it among the “10 Worst Anime Betrayals.”
Another person who said she bought tickets to the festival just to see Roan said she was disappointed but not angry at the singer for canceling.
“Think how depressing it would be to see her go on stage and not have fun,” he said. “Part of the reason I love her so much is because I love watching her have fun on stage.”
Roan catapulted to Gen Z fame last year with his album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” and its accompanying tour. The recording chronicles his journey in, out and through Los Angeles since 2018 while trying to make it in the music industry.
But Roan has taken to TikTok more recently to speak directly to fans about what she characterizes as abuse and harassment of celebrities by fans. She clarified her comments about fans' “creepy behavior.”
“I disagree with the idea that I owe a mutual exchange of energy, time, or attention to people I don't know, trust, or scare me, just because they express admiration. “Women don’t owe you a reason why they don’t want to be touched or talked to,” she said.
Roan also faced backlash after he said he would not endorse a political candidate in an interview published last week by The Guardian.
“I have many problems with our government in every way. “There are so many things I would like to change,” he said. “There are problems on both sides. “I encourage people to use their critical thinking skills.”
After the “both sides” quote went viral, with internet users accusing her of straddling the line between the sides and being afraid to take sides, Roan said in a TikTok that it had been taken out of context.
His words were not seen with the nuance he intended, he said. He encouraged his viewers to vote, but to remain skeptical of authority figures and the government. In another video, he said he planned to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.
“Actions speak louder than words, and I'm not going to allow this narrative of me playing both sides, no, no, that's not me playing both sides,” he said. “This is me questioning both sides.”
