Halsey Responds to Criticism of Chappell Roan
Halsey discussed an article that criticized Chappell Roan’s recent Grammy speech, where she urged recording labels to better support their artists.
Read more: Chappell Roan: The Pop Supernova, who feels one of the girls “Drag Race”
Chappell Roan’s Grammy Speech
After winning Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards earlier this week, Chappell Roan directed her remarks at recording labels, sharing her experiences as a struggling artist. She stated, “I told myself that if I ever win a Grammy and stand here in front of the most powerful people in music, I would demand that the labels in the industry provide millions of dollars in wages and health care, especially to developing artists.”
Roan’s speech garnered applause, even from artists like Taylor Swift. She emphasized, “Labels should treat their artists as valuable employees, providing livable wages, medical insurance, and protection.” She concluded by asking, “Labels, we got you. But do you have us?”
Check out her full speech below.
Critiques Following the Grammy Speech
Following the Grammy ceremony, Hollywood Reporter published an article by guest observer Jeff Rabhan, a former music journalist and label head. Rabhan labeled Roan as “erroneous” and “too naive and uninformed” for her demands directed at major labels.
In his article, he wrote, “Her Grammy speech was a cut-and-paste job from the narrative of artists who entered the industry with naivete and fought to get there. If labels are accountable for artists’ wages, health care, and overall well-being, where does their responsibility end and personal accountability begin? Should Shris Blackwell leave a mint on the pillow and season it at night? There’s no moral or ethical obligation for labels to distribute excess funds beyond advances and royalties.”
He continued, “Once she stepped onto the Grammy stage on Sunday evening, she was no longer just an indie artist struggling to make it; she had become part of the institution. It’s disingenuous to cash a big check from a label, enjoy substantial industry support to achieve major success, and then act like a child who wasn’t picked for dodgeball when your name is called.”
Now, Halsey has posted a pointed story on Instagram, criticizing both the Hollywood Reporter and Rabhan for their article. She wrote, “I hope you’re embarrassed by the personal attack you disguised as critical journalism. This falls far below the standards you must uphold as a publication.”
Halsey added, “Rabhan’s sensationalist disclosure is filled with assumptions and accusations that dismiss the experiences of every artist. The industry consists of thousands of voices; the elite at the top do not represent the monolithic experience of all artists.”
She concluded, “An artist like Chappell, who has worked hard for over a decade, is not an ‘instant industry insider,’ and comparing her earnings to those of industry titans like Taylor Swift is irresponsible, especially when Chappell has barely begun to enjoy her sudden success. Shame on you. This is bootlicking behavior.”
Chappell Roan has not yet responded to the article. She has been announced as a headliner for next year’s Reading & Leeds and Primavera Sound festivals, and this month, she was crowned the winner of the BBC Radio 1 Sound of 2025.
Roan’s single “Good Luck, Baby” was also named by NME as the best song of 2024, described as “an unrestrained hit with an infectious synth that delivers raw truths to anyone desperately trying to deny their oddity,” according to the record.
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