Charli XCX & Stars Rewrite the Narrative on Substack: Pop, Control & the Future of Fandom

Pop stars are increasingly turning to longform writing platforms like Substack to control their narratives and engage in conversations often unavailable through traditional media channels. Artists including Charli XCX, Doechii, and Troye Sivan are using the platform to offer more nuanced perspectives on their art, experiences, and the pressures of fame.

Charli XCX, known for her analytical approach to pop music, has been a vocal proponent of dissecting the art form. This perspective dates back to at least 2014, when she expressed her enjoyment of debate surrounding pop music on X, formerly known as Twitter. She continues to explore these themes in her work, including the recent film The Moment, and now through her Substack essays. In a November 2025 essay titled “The Realities of Being a Pop Star,” Charli XCX wrote, “Another thing about being a pop star is that you cannot avoid the fact that some people are simply determined to prove that you are stupid.” The essay garnered over 17,000 subscribers within 48 hours, signaling a shift in how pop stars interact with their audiences.

The current media landscape, characterized by blind items, misinformation, and “hate trains,” often prevents artists from controlling the conversation surrounding them. Substack offers a space to circumvent these dynamics. Doechii, in a Substack post titled “If You Were Writing to Black People, You Wouldn’t Have to Edit So Much,” expressed her desire to speak directly to those who understand her perspective without the need for constant explanation. She followed this with a December post, “My Shower Head Is Racist,” analyzing the design of showerheads and how they often fail to consider the needs of Black women. Doechii wrote of wanting a space “designed for community but not shouting for attention.”

The platform allows for a level of depth and nuance not typically found on platforms like X or TikTok. While some commenters still miss the point – with one suggesting Doechii simply travel with a detachable showerhead – others engage earnestly with the artists’ writing. Charli XCX’s posts have also drawn a mix of thoughtful engagement and dismissive criticism, proving her point about the determination of some to discredit pop stars.

Troye Sivan, who gained prominence as a YouTuber before transitioning to a pop career, launched his Substack in January 2026. His initial posts included a detailed account of his shower routine and a candid essay originally titled “Fuck This Guy,” later renamed “Feeling a Bit Uggo (Ugly).” The essay was a response to a cosmetic doctor who criticized Sivan’s appearance in an Instagram video. Sivan used the platform to explore his complicated relationship with body image, something he had previously struggled with privately. He wrote about considering cosmetic procedures and the pressures of maintaining a certain appearance, stating, “What good is money and modern medicine if not to fix all of these flaws that this random sicko fucko plastic surgeon told me I have in an instagram reel?”

While Sivan, Doechii, and Charli XCX have substantial followings on other social media platforms, their Substack audiences are smaller. Nevertheless, the platform provides a different kind of space – one that encourages more thoughtful engagement and allows artists to reclaim control of their narratives. As Charli XCX stated in a recent interview with A Rabbit’s Foot, “People just haven’t listened… or I’ve been taken out of context. Writing publicly lets me create the context.” Doechii echoed this sentiment, stating, “I want to say shit once— and the shit be understood the first time I say it.”

Zara Larsson, another outspoken pop artist, acknowledged the varying quality of pop star Substack content, praising Doechii and Charli XCX while suggesting some artists struggle to move beyond performance even in a longform writing format. The success of this new medium hinges on artists’ willingness to share authentic perspectives and audiences’ willingness to engage with them thoughtfully.