Chappell Roan is a f*cking superstar, and that was fully apparent at her Governor’s Ball performance.
Chappell arrived on stage hidden in a smoking bong apple. When she emerged, she was in full body paint, dressed as a yassified Statue of Liberty. This look wasn’t just an homage to NYC and “the biggest queen of all” — she also had a message about the poem etched on the real Statue of Liberty’s feet.
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free…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,” Chappell said tearfully.
During her set, she told the crowd that she was invited to the White House to perform for Pride, but she turned it down.
“This is a response to the White House, who asked me to perform for Pride. We want liberty, justice, and freedom for all. When you do that, that’s when I’ll come,” she said.
The Gov Ball crowd got an extra treat when Chappell performed an unreleased song called, “Subway” dressed as a NYC taxi, (we love a queen who is always on theme). In comparison to her more upbeat, danceable hits, “Subway” is a more mellow ballad with lyrics like “Girl on the subway, she’s the one that got away.”
The most awe-inspiring aspect of the performance was the crowd of tens of thousands of people who were there to see an openly queer artist sing openly queer songs. Her calls for political action were met with echoing cheers that filled Flushing Park. Her set was proof that not only do queer artists belong — they’re beloved.
Chappell Roan is on an exponential spike to megastardom, and we hate to say it, but we told you so.