Zara Larsson Defends Chappell Roan Against Sexist Critics

Swedish pop singer Zara Larsson has publicly defended Chappell Roan, asserting that the negativity and criticism directed at the Pink Pony Club artist are rooted in sexism. In an interview with The Guardian published April 3, 2026, Larsson argued that Roan receives a disproportionate amount of hate for establishing personal boundaries.

Larsson suggested that the public reaction to women setting limits is often volatile compared to the treatment of men. She noted that while men may be applauded even after committing violent criminal things, a woman simply asking people to stop following her becomes a point of controversy.

When a woman has boundaries, I think people freak out. Men can do violent criminal things, and people applaud them, but when a woman says, ‘Stop following me,’ it’s controversial? It’s like, ‘You guys just hate women, actually.’

Zara Larsson via The Guardian

Larsson expressed a growing affection for Roan in the face of this scrutiny, stating that the more people hate her, the more I love her.

A History of Establishing Boundaries

The defense comes after several years of Roan being vocal about her discomfort with certain aspects of fame. In 2024, the singer released a statement drawing a clear line between her professional work and her clocked-out life. During that same year, Roan controversially compared the experience of fame to that of an abusive ex-husband.

Roan has also routinely called out what she describes as predatory behaviour from superfans, including nonconsensual social and physical interactions. Her insistence on boundaries has led to several public confrontations, including shutting down a cameraman at the 2024 VMAs and calling out autograph seekers and photographers in Paris in March 2026.

The São Paulo Hotel Incident

Larsson’s comments follow a specific period of backlash involving an incident at a hotel in São Paulo in late March 2026. Brazilian soccer star Jorginho claimed that a security guard acted in an aggressive manner toward his 11-year-old stepdaughter, Ada Law, the daughter of actor Jude Law.

According to Jorginho, Ada had walked past Roan’s table and smiled at the singer during breakfast. He alleged that the security guard berated the family and told the mother she should not allow her daughter to disrespect or harass others, leaving the child in tears.

Roan later addressed the claims, stating she had not seen the incident occur and clarified that the security guard involved was not employed by her. Catherine Harding, Jorginho’s wife and Ada’s mother, acknowledged that the guard was not Roan’s personal security, though she stated the individual was also not a hotel employee.

The fallout from the incident was significant, leading the mayor of Rio de Janeiro to ban Roan from one of the city’s largest music festivals. However, subsequent reporting indicated that much of the online controversy may have been driven by a bot-led smear campaign.

Differing Perspectives on Fame

While defending Roan, Larsson acknowledged that she has a different relationship with the attention that comes with celebrity. Larsson stated that she thrives on attention in all forms and admitted that as a younger person, she looked forward to having paparazzi outside her home.

Larsson compared her approach to that of fellow pop star Addison Rae, noting that Rae treats the attention economy as a game, sometimes calling paparazzi before visiting a petrol station. Larsson remarked that both she and Rae view life as a performance.

Larsson is also no stranger to public backlash. She revealed to The Guardian that in March 2026, a brand revoked a multimillion-dollar sponsorship offer after she made a joke about abortion on TikTok. Larsson stated that she lost $3 million, the largest brand deal she had ever been offered, but responded to the loss by calling the decision-makers losers.