A new study has revealed that the online backlash against singer Chappell Roan over an alleged incident involving a security guard and an 11-year-old fan was largely driven by bots. The controversy erupted after Brazilian footballer Jorginho accused a bodyguard of berating his wife and stepdaughter at a hotel in Brazil.
Roan, 28, has denied that the security guard was part of her team and said she was unaware of the incident. Despite this, she faced intense scrutiny online. However, analysis by AI platform Gudea found that a significant portion of the criticism came from non-typical users, including bots.
The study examined 100,030 posts from 54,334 users across seven platforms between March 20 and 22. It found that 4.21% of activity originated from accounts classified as outliers, influencers, or facilitators—accounts that post unusually or appear automated. These users accounted for 23% of all posts, a high proportion.
The report noted that the incident prompted personal attacks on Roan, calls for boycotts, and the spread of misinformation. It added that discourse ranged from legitimate criticism to coordinated attacks and satirical content that blurred fact and fiction.
Jorginho had shared on Instagram that his wife and stepdaughter were approached aggressively by a security guard at the hotel where Roan was staying. Celebrity bodyguard Pascal Duvier later took responsibility, stating he was not part of Roan's security team and that his actions were based on hotel information and security concerns.
