Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTV
Chappell Roan prepped for her Best New Artist win at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards. She pulled her journal out from her chain mail to thank the girls and the gays and Island Records for her win. Roan made sure to shout out drag queens, saying, “I dedicate this to all the drag artists who inspire me, and I dedicate this to all the queer, trans people who inspire pop.” She also gave love to the queers of the Midwest: “I see you, I understand you, because I’m one of you.”
It’s been an eventful VMAs for Chappell Roan, following an eventful (and sometimes scary) year. She had an altercation with a photographer on the red carpet, then thew a sword during her performance of “Good Luck, Babe!,” then won Best New Artist. And each of these events had a different Joan of Arc lewk. Very Kate Bush “Babooshka,” very fun. Read her speech below.
I dedicate this to all the drag artists who inspire me, and I dedicate this to queer and trans people who fuel pop. To the gays who dedicate my songs to someone they love or hate. And thank you to the people who are fans, who listen to me, who hear me when I share my joy and fears. Thank you for listening.
And for all the queer kids in the Midwest watching right now, I see you. I understand you, because I’m one of you. And don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t be exactly who you want to be, bitch.
