Pop star Chappell Roan, known for hits like “Pink Pony Club,” has revealed the toll her skyrocketing fame has taken on her mental health. Roan, whose real name is Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, recently opened up about her diagnosis of severe depression following the release of her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. In an interview with The Guardian, the 25-year-old singer shared her struggles, including dealing with symptoms like brain fog, forgetfulness, and a lack of focus—despite not feeling traditionally “sad.”
“I’m in therapy twice a week,” Roan said. “I went to a psychiatrist last week because I was like, ‘I don’t know what’s going on.’ She diagnosed me with severe depression—which I didn’t think I had because I’m not actually sad. But I have every symptom of someone who’s severely depressed.”
Roan admitted that her sudden fame has disrupted her sense of normalcy and safety. She noted that simple activities like going to a park or a thrift store now require extensive planning, including hiring security, to ensure she can move about safely without facing harassment or stalking from fans.
“Everything that I really love to do now comes with baggage,” she said. “I have to prepare myself that this is not going to be normal.”
The artist went viral recently after an incident on the MTV VMA’s red carpet, where she clapped back at a photographer, expressing frustration with the pressures of celebrity life. “I’m very turned off by the celebrity of it all,” Roan explained, adding that she refuses to be “a sweetie pie” to those who disrespect her. “Some girls have been in this so long that they’re used to that, but I’m not that girl.”
Her openness about her challenges has been met with a mixed response, with some fans perceiving her statements as complaints about success. Roan, however, insists that her criticisms are aimed at the darker side of fame, including the abuse she has experienced. “I’m complaining about being abused,” she clarified.
The singer also opened up about the emotional toll her newfound fame has taken on her. “Every time I walk through my front door, it just comes out of me,” she said. “I can’t even help it, I just start sobbing… grieving how the curiosity and pure wonder I had about the world is somewhat taken away from me.”
Roan has been vocal about the need to establish boundaries with fans, having previously shared posts on social media accusing some of inappropriate behavior. “Please stop touching me. Please stop being weird to my family and friends,” she wrote in one post, adding, “I feel the most unsafe I have ever felt in my life.”
Despite the challenges, Roan remains committed to her art and is drawing strength from the support of fellow musicians like Lady Gaga and Lana Del Rey, who she says have navigated similar struggles. Still, Roan’s journey highlights the high emotional cost of fame, a burden she is learning to manage as she continues to navigate her rapidly evolving career.
