The power of online music fandoms to generate political hype has been highlighted in recent US election cycles – see the Swifties – but the backlash against Chappell Roan over a presidential endorsement has highlighted the ferocity of so-called stan culture.

The recent drama surrounding Roan has highlighted the growing pressure on some artists to get involved in the US presidential election, particularly from their own fans who often feel entitled to their idols.

Roan – a young pop superstar who broke into the mainstream earlier this year – faced intense criticism last week after he refrained from giving a celebrity endorsement to either candidate. In a newspaper interview, he said that US politics had “problems on both sides.” “

Her stance made her a target of online messaging, and her clarification in two TikTok videos that her tendency to “question authority and world leaders” did not mean she was voting for Donald Trump only made the furor louder .

The 26-year-old artist, who identifies as queer, said she not only despises Trump but is also disappointed with the Democratic Party for several reasons, including its support of Israel’s war in Gaza.

She would vote for Kamala Harris, Roan insisted, but that didn’t expose the Democrat to criticism.

However, that didn’t dampen the uproar and the “Pink Pony Club” singer ended up canceling two festival appearances, saying she “couldn’t perform.”

“Things have become overwhelming over the last few weeks and I’m really feeling it,” Roan said.

“I need a few days to prioritize my health.”

– ‘Illusion of Intimacy’ –

Many musicians, including Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Doja Cat, have either addressed the ownership that fans seem to have over their personal lives in songs or have spoken openly about it – reinforced by the need of musicians and rising stars to be in the to be active on social media.

When fans turn social media access into parasocial relationships, an “illusion of intimacy” is created, said Petra Gronholm, a professor specializing in global mental health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

When it comes to celebrity politics, there is an “idea of ​​validation,” she said.

“You want them to publicly stand up for what you might believe, or assume that they stand for, or that they should stand for – to see yourself reflected in them in some way.”

This is a particularly pronounced feeling when it comes to music: “An actor always feels that what is happening on the screen is a role and does not really reflect who he is as an individual,” said Mark Clague, musicologist at the University of Michigan Institute.

“With a pop song, however, the authenticity and the ability to speak comes from an honest place, so to speak, a place of vulnerability on the part of the artist.”

Social media is increasing the demands on some musicians—particularly those new to the scene—to make their positions known.

“This kind of celebrity can feel more capricious,” said David Jackson, a politics professor at Bowling Green State University. “There is probably a greater awareness and need among celebrities in a highly social media environment to keep their finger on the pulse of what their fans are thinking.”

And life on the internet doesn’t leave much room for nuance, as Roan discovered.

“Things feel more dichotomous now than real life actually is,” Jackson said.

– ‘Arouse devotion’ –

For fans, supporting isn’t necessarily about political impact – it can be about making listeners feel confident that their musical tastes align with their worldview.

Jackson said loyalty to an artist is not unlike consumer choices in other areas of life – how people dress, where they live and what they eat – all of which have the potential to make a statement about their political beliefs or the personality they have want to represent.

“Entertainment eats up a significant portion of people’s available money,” Jackson said. “I don’t think it’s entirely unreasonable for fans to at least want to know where the celebrities they’re giving their money to stand.”

However, when it comes to the actual campaign, it is difficult to assess the true impact of celebrity endorsements.

In Harris’ case, Jackson said celebrity endorsement appeared to be “aimed at mobilization rather than persuasion.”

When Swift endorsed Harris, she also posted a voter registration link that more than 400,000 people clicked in the 24 hours after she shared it.

Swift’s megastar status makes her a uniquely influential voice — but music can also be a particularly inspiring art form, Clague said.

“The interesting thing about music, which is common to both religion and politics, is the way music is used to inspire devotion,” he said. “And to motivate people to take action.”

mdo/nro