Featured Image Credit: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy/John Nacion/Variety via Getty Images
Topics: Chappell Roan, Celebrity, World News, Music
Lucy Devine
Topics: Chappell Roan, Celebrity, World News, Music
The Mayor of Rio de Janeiro has banned Chappell Roan from performing at a festival in the city 'as long as he's in charge' after reports of a security guard upsetting an 11-year-old girl who'd encountered the singer at a hotel.
On Saturday (March 21), former Arsenal and Chelsea footballer Jorginho criticised the musican after his stepdaughter, Ada, who is the daughter of actor Jude Law, was left distraught after allegedly spotting Roan at a hotel in São Paulo where they were all staying.
Jorginho is married to Law's ex, Catherine Harding, who is Ada's mother.
According to Jorginho, his stepdaughter walked past Roan's table to check it was 'really her' before returning to her seat after believing she had spotted the 28-year-old while in the hotel for breakfast.
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He then accused the singer's security team of being 'aggressive' towards his family after approaching them, with Ada left 'extremely shaken', which Roan has since responded to on her Instagram Stories.
In his Instagram post, Jorginho said Ada 'really admires' Roan and had 'even made a sign', which he shared in the post.
"By coincidence, they're staying at the same hotel as this artist. During breakfast, the artist walked past their table. My daughter, like any child, recognised her, got excited, and just wanted to make sure it was really her," he continued.
"And the worst part is she didn't even approach her. She simply walked past the singer's table, looked to confirm it was her, smiled, and went back to sit with her mum. She didn't say anything, didn't ask for anything."
This account was also backed by Ada's mother, Catherine, who said in her own social media response that her daughter 'literally didn’t do anything; she just looked at her and smiled'.
Jorginho said what followed was a 'disproportionate' reaction.
"A large security guard came over to their table whilst they were still having breakfast and began speaking in an extremely aggressive manner to both my wife and my daughter, saying that she shouldn't allow my daughter to 'disrespect' or 'harass' other people," he continued.
"Honestly, I don't know at what point simply walking past a table and looking to see if someone is there can be considered harassment.
"He even said he would file a complaint against them with the hotel, whilst my 11-year-old daughter was sitting there in tears. My daughter was extremely shaken and cried a lot."
Jorginho went on to say that he understands 'very well' about respect and boundaries; however, what happened was 'just a child admiring someone'.
He concluded by telling the singer that 'without your fans, you would be nothing'.
Following the controversy, mayor Eduardo Cavaliere wrote on X, explaining that he had effectively banned Roan from performing at Todo Mundo no Rio.
He wrote [translated]: “I mean that as long as I’m in charge of our city – this young lady @ChappellRoan will never perform at Todo Mundo no Rio! I doubt that Shakira @shakira @Shakira_Brasil would do that!”
The mayor added: “By the way, @FrelloJorginho your little one is already the guest of honor from the organization in May!”
Todo Mundo no Rio is a series of mega shows in Rio de Janeiro, with past performers including Madonna and Lady Gaga.
On Saturday night (March 31), Roan had performed at Brazil's Lollapalooza, which took place at Autódromo de Interlagos in São Paulo, where, according to People, she didn't know 'when I'll be going on tour again, so this is the last one', adding: "I'm so grateful it's here."
In a video on her Instagram Story, Roan has now spoken out about the ordeal for herself and insisted that the person that reportedly made 11-year-old Ada cry was not a member of her security team, nor was she aware that a woman and her child came up to her.
"I did not ask the security guard to go up and talk to this mother and child," she said. "They did not come up to me... they weren't doing anything.
"It's unfair for security to assume somebody doesn't have good intentions when they have no reason to believe because there's no action even taken."
The 'Hot To Go' singer continued: "I do not hate people who are fans of my music. I do not hate children.
"Like, that is crazy. I'm sorry to the mother and child that someone was assuming something... and that if they felt uncomfortable, that makes me really sad."