After Chappell Roan announced she’d donate $25,000 to help struggling artists, Charli XCX and Noah Kahan announced they would also give that amount to help the cause. But Chappell says that’s not what she was expecting when she used her Grammy speech to call for record labels to give their acts more financial support.
Chappell wrote on her Instagram Story, “sharing my personal experience on the Grammy stage wasn’t meant to be a crowdfunded bandaid [sic] but a call to action by the leaders of the industry to step up, help us make real change and protect their investments” — in other words, their artists — “in a sustainable way.”
She continued, “My mind will not be changed about artists deserving more than what’s standard in the industry.” Then, referring to industry insider Jeff Rabhan, who slammed her “misguided rhetoric” in The Hollywood Reporter, she added, “Random dudes are allowed to criticize my Grammy speech but they best put their money where their mouth is, otherwise MOVE out of the way.”
Chappell then shared that she had given her $25,000 to Backline, a charity that provides mental health care and resources to the music community; she also posted the thank-you note she received.
“Fans, yall don’t have to donate a damn penny,” she said. “this is one of the many opportunities for industry powers to show up for artists. there is much more work to be done.”
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