'Pink Pony Club' singer Chappell Roan is raising funds for struggling artists in response to critic finding fault with her Grammy speech advocating for young artists' well-being.
- Feb 8, 2025
AceShowbiz - Chappell Roan takes on her critic head-on. Her Grammy speech calling out labels for their treatments of young and emerging artists was slammed on The Hollywood Reporter by music executive, Jeff Rabhan.
The "Pink Pony Club" singer was disdained for her "naivete." Rabhan mused, "If labels are responsible for artists' wages, health care and overall well-being, where does it end and personal responsibility begin? … Should Chris Blackwell put a mint on her pillow and tuck her in at night, too?"
Undeterred, Roan fired back at the music exec by raising funds for struggling artists on social media. "Wanna match me $25K to support struggling artists? Will keep everyone updated with the much-awaited response. I will show receipts of the donations," she wrote.
She then used her platform to highlight and promote other deserving artists such as Hemlock Springs, Sarah Kinsley, Devon Again, and Baby Storme, further emphasizing her point.
Adding to the conversation, Halsey sided with Roan. In a fervent Instagram post, Halsey labeled the essay "a personal attack disguised as critique," criticizing it for falling short of journalistic standards.
"I hope you're embarrassed of the absolute personal attack that you've ran and disguised as critical journalism," Halsey wrote. Highlighting the need for basic necessities for artists, she stated, "If someone profits off an artist's work, the artist should have the basic necessities to feel safe and continue creating art."
"It's a game of investment, but the investment is towards producing the materials; the person *the ORGANIC MATERIAL* that is producing that product needs access to things like health care. Shocking, I know."
Roan and Halsey's passionate advocacies underscore a crucial conversation within the music industry - whether profit-oriented labels should bear more accountability for the well-being of their artists.
Whether or not substantial changes will be implemented remains to be seen, the discussion itself marks a critical step towards better care for artists in the entertainment world.
