Chappell Roan, the breakout pop star known for her hit “Pink Pony Club,” has hit back at a critical op-ed written by music industry veteran Jeff Rabhan in The Hollywood Reporter. In the piece, Rabhan criticized Roan’s comments made during her acceptance speech at the 2025 Grammy Awards, calling her remarks “condescending” and dismissing her as “too green and too uninformed.”
The controversy began when Roan, accepting the Grammy Award for Best New Artist, used her platform to advocate for struggling artists. She highlighted the difficulties of up-and-coming musicians, specifically mentioning how she lost access to health care after being dropped by a record label and calling on the music industry to better support emerging talent with fair wages and adequate healthcare benefits.
In his op-ed, Rabhan took issue with Roan’s comments, labeling her “Chappell Groan” in a dismissive tone and suggesting that she was uninformed about the complexities of the music business. He also challenged her to “put your money where your mouth is,” questioning whether she was truly committed to the cause of supporting artists.
Roan, however, quickly accepted Rabhan’s challenge. In an Instagram Story post, she called on Rabhan to match her $25,000 donation to struggling artists, writing, “Hey @jeffrabhan wanna match me $25k to donate to struggling dropped artists? My publicist is @biz3publicity. Let’s talk.”
In a subsequent post, Roan shared a selfie and added, “Will keep everyone updated on the much-awaited @jeffrabhan response!! And I will show receipts of the donations.” She further elaborated, “Mr. Rabhan, I love how in the article you said ‘put your money where your mouth is.’ Genius!!! Let’s link and build together and see if you can do the same.”
Roan’s response has sparked significant attention, especially with her bold challenge to Rabhan. It also underscores her ongoing commitment to advocating for greater support for emerging musicians who often struggle with the same issues Roan faced before finding success.
In addition to calling out Rabhan, Roan used her platform to spotlight several lesser-known artists she believes deserve more attention. In a series of Instagram Stories, she recommended several rising stars, highlighting their work and encouraging her followers to listen and support them.
Among the artists Roan spotlighted were Hemlock Springs (@hemlockesprings on Instagram), a musician with a unique and haunting style; Sarah Kinsley (@sarahkinsleyd on Instagram), whose emotionally charged music has earned her a growing fanbase; and Devon Again (@trashytrashy on Instagram), who brings an innovative and experimental sound to the indie scene. Roan also highlighted Baby Storme, an artist whose work blends pop and alternative influences to create a distinct musical identity.
“Here are some artists that deserve more love and a bigger platform,” Roan wrote, sharing links to the musicians’ music on popular streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. By recommending these up-and-coming talents, Roan continues her advocacy for greater recognition and support for lesser-known musicians who may not have the same level of industry backing as more established stars.
The confrontation between Roan and Rabhan highlights a larger issue within the music industry: the financial and emotional struggles faced by emerging artists. For many musicians, the path to success is fraught with obstacles, including lack of access to healthcare, financial instability, and the constant pressure to stay relevant in an industry that often prioritizes big-name artists over newcomers. Roan’s comments at the Grammys, and her subsequent actions, serve as a call to action for the industry to reconsider how it treats and supports its rising stars.
As the music world watches this unfolding exchange, it remains to be seen how Rabhan will respond to Roan’s challenge. Will he match her $25,000 donation and contribute to the cause of supporting struggling artists? Roan has made it clear that she is ready and willing to put her money where her mouth is, and she is eager to hold industry figures accountable for their role in supporting the next generation of musicians.
Roan’s advocacy, paired with her rising success in the music industry, continues to make her a powerful voice for change, and it is clear that her impact extends far beyond her music.
