For the latest cover of Rolling Stone, Roan told the publication that she originally intended to accept the White House’s invitation to the event — but she planned to protest the Biden administration’s involvement in Israel’s attacks on Gaza instead of performing one of her songs.
“I had picked out some poems from Palestinian women. I was trying to do it as tastefully as I could because all I wanted to do was yell,” she said. “I had to find something that’s tasteful and to the point and meaningful, and not make it about me and how I feel. I don’t know if I’ll ever get that close in direct sight of the president ever in my life. This is my shot.”
While Roan said that her publicist ultimately talked her out of her protest (saying, “You f–k with the president and the government, your security is not the same, and neither is your family’s”), she firmly stands by her decision not to attend the event. “I’m not going to go to the White House because I am not going to be a monkey for Pride,” she explained, before criticizing the administration’s walked-back statement about gender-affirming surgery for minors. “Thank God I didn’t go because they just made a huge statement about trans kids.”
"Chappell Roan found dead by suicide after shooting herself twice in the back of the head."
I kid, but I wonder what path her career will be now
I don't see how her choice to decline the invitation would affect her career. Not going seems like a non-issue that will barely even enter public discourse.
If she had gone and protested, she might have been dropped by her label (I don't know how progressive Island Records is). Even then, the "no such thing as bad press" axiom might have worked in her favor. It seems like her fan base is pretty fervent, meaning she would likely be attractive to another label.