Chappell Roan has hit back at a music executive who criticised her Grammy acceptance speech, challenging him to match her $25,000 donation to struggling artists. The 26-year-old singer, who won Best New Artist at the 67th Grammy Awards on February 2, used her speech to call for better pay and healthcare for musicians.
Days later, Jeff Rabhan, former chair of the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU, wrote an op-ed for The Hollywood Reporter, dismissing Roan as 'far too green and uninformed' to lead change. Roan responded on Instagram Stories, posting a screenshot of the article and writing: '@jeffrabhan wanna match me $25K to donate to struggling dropped artists? My publicist is @biz3publicity. let's talk.'
In a follow-up post, she added: 'Mr Rabhan I love how you said "put your money where your mouth is." Genius !!! Let's link and build together and see if you can do the same.' She promised to 'keep everyone updated' and 'show receipts of the donations.'
Roan, born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, had used her Grammy podium to demand that record labels offer 'a livable wage and healthcare, especially to developing artists.' She shared her own experience of being signed as a minor and later dropped with no job experience, unable to afford health insurance during the pandemic. 'If my label would have prioritized artists' health, I could have been provided care by a company I was giving everything to,' she said.
Rabhan's op-ed acknowledged Roan's 'creativity and gumption' but argued she was too inexperienced to be an effective advocate. Roan also listed artists she believes 'deserve more love and a bigger platform,' including Hemlocke Springs, Sarah Kinsley, Devon Again and Baby Storme.
