Chappell Roan says she rejected a White House invitation to perform for Pride

Queer pop star Chappell Roan said during a performance at the Governors Ball Music Festival on Sunday that she rejected an invitation from the White House to perform at a Pride celebration.

“This is a response to the White House, who asked me to perform for Pride. We want liberty, justice and freedom for all. When you do that, that’s when I’ll come,” she said before introducing her song “My Kink Is Karma.” 

Roan, who performed while dressed as the Statue of Liberty, pointed to lines from the poem mounted at the base of the New York City monument.

“But in case you have forgotten what’s etched on my pretty little toes: ‘Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to be free,’” she said, quoting the poem by Emma Lazarus.

“That means freedom in trans rights, that means freedom in women’s rights, and … it especially means freedom for all oppressed people in occupied territories,” she said, taking an emotional pause to collect herself.

Her response, which was also posted on X, was met with cheers from the crowd.

Roan — who draws inspiration from drag, adopting “Chappell Roan” as her drag persona — emerged from an apple onstage in New York City at Sunday’s event with Lady Liberty’s flaming torch in one hand and a joint in the other. 

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Born Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, Roan previously said that drag helped her connect with her queer identity. 

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“I really have taken that on as an identity, and it’s been really freeing to be like, ‘Oh! Chappell Roan is my drag project,’” she said.

Roan rose to fame following the release of her single “Good Luck, Babe!” The song debuted earlier this year on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, a feat that Billboard said broke “the ‘gay famous’ ceiling” that has apparently prevented other queer artists from breaking into the mainstream charts. Her album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” and stint opening for singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo on the “Guts” tour have solidified her status as a new queer icon.

The White House and Chappell Roan have not responded to NBC News’ requests for comment.

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