Nothing ‘Casual’ About It: Chappell Roan, Ethel Cain and Why Female Stans Need to Look Inward

Words: Sihaam Naik

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The concept of the "stan" has evolved from a new name for the megafan, into a phenomenon that requires addressing. In the last couple of years – and even months – queer, female artists like Ethel Cain and Chappell Roan have stepped away from the public eye, citing their obsessive fan bases — primarily composed of women — as a significant factor.

For the first time, the objects of desire are addressing stans directly, and declaring stan culture as unhealthy, invasive behaviour. It feels like a breath of fresh air after celebrities have too often been forced to pander to fans who, at any given moment, can go viral for painting their faves as rude, cruel or aloof.

In an interview with The Guardian in 2023, Cain shared that she felt like “a performing monkey” and stated that her reason for stepping away from social media was fans demanding access to her friends and family. Cain used to communicate frequently with fans through prose and pictures on her Tumblr mothercain but stopped using the account last year. By creating content for them silently, Cain has eliminated the interaction element. In the time since, Cain has resorted to uploading one-off YouTube videos detailing her art book collection or calling for the assassination of Biden, no in-between. Luckily for us all, she is now back on Tumblr, reblogging fanart and letting people know what’s on her mind  - she’s seen Twisters three times at the cinema.
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While the term ‘stan’ itself derives its name from the same titled song about a stalker by Eminem, the reality of modern fandom reveals that obsessive behaviour isn't strictly for the boys. Chappell Roan’s recent decision to retreat from the spotlight proves it. The pop star has cited the relentless stalking of her and her family by her fans as a major factor in her withdrawal from the limelight. On the podcast The Comment Section with Drew Afualo, the singer revealed that she had previously vowed to step back from the public eye if she ever felt threatened by “stalker vibes.” She explained, “People have started to act really strange. They follow me, and they even know where my parents live and where my sister works. It’s all this unsettling behaviour.” Roan goes on to detail why this makes her uncomfortable, and she plans on removing herself from public spaces and fan interactions.

While it’s crucial to note that while the majority of stalkers are still men, the rise of female and queer fan stalkers highlights a nuance in modern fandom dynamics that has been, until now, unexplored. Stan culture, in general, which is largely driven by women, is now producing a growing number of female stalkers. It’s clear that the intensity of stan culture stems from a profound emotional investment in celebrities, often driven by personal identification or a deep sense of connection. Marginalised people are often desperate for representation, and they hold onto every Easter egg, every unreleased song with a tight grasp. Stans plea to gatekeep their favourite celebs in the nascent stages of their careers, and fight to claim them as personal heroes.  But this leads to a troubling pattern: an unhealthy preoccupation with celebrities' private lives. This obsession detracts from the artists' work and personal well-being, reducing their lives to mere spectacles for public consumption. The idea that an artist's personal life should be accessible or that their boundaries are negotiable reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of personal privacy. 

So why do marginalised people seek stan culture out more often than not? Clinical psychologist and author Carla Marie Manly thinks it could be because of loneliness. In an article titled ‘How the loneliness crisis is fuelling stan culture,” Manly told Salon that the more people isolate themselves from the community, the more it becomes a vicious cycle of retracting and obsessing over fandom. 

“The idea that an artist's personal life should be accessible or that their boundaries are negotiable reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of personal privacy.” 

The frustration expressed by artists like Halsey, who has recently commented on the growing negativity from her fanbase, further emphasises the growing issue. On her Tumblr (@tiredandlonelymuse), Halsey shared: “My own fans are hands down meaner to me than any other people on the planet. Not speaking for all of you, of course. But it used to be just a minority that was awful to me, and now it seems like a majority have only stuck around to chime in occasionally with their opinion of how much they hate me or how awful I am… I’m a person. Not a character in a music video.” In a recent post promoting her latest song, Lucky, Halsey received dry comments from “No offence, but this song sucks” to “Why does she look like that…”  This transformation indicates a significant cultural shift within fandoms, where negativity and vitriol are increasingly commonplace. 

Stans aren’t solely criticising when they use negative language however. Cruel commentary is also being used as coded fan love language, attempting “self-deprecating” humour to engage with their faves that doesn’t necessarily translate outside of stan culture. Trixie Mattel recently called out her own fans for making her feel uncomfortable with their choice of words. “They’ll come up and be like, ‘Hi, you fat, bald f****t.’ They talk to me in a way that I’m not comfortable with.” Mattel’s signature dry humour is not an invitation to ridicule her under the guise of being “pally”. While this back-and-forth banter can exist in your own friend groups or fandom chats, using that same formula to rub shoulders with your favourite celebs won’t give you, or the person you’re directing it at, the desired effect. 

That’s what people forget while interacting with celebrities. They see stars as unreachable and untouchable, existing primarily on our screens. They are accessible at the click of a button, their opinions and thoughts available at our fingertips, and their faces plastered across billboards. But at the core, behind all that branding, is a person whose artistic expression has become their career. Just as we wouldn’t harass our mail carriers or doctors, who are simply doing their jobs, it’s striking how little restraint is shown towards celebrities. Why can’t we be normal about people? Or rather, why can’t we see celebs as people?

Stan culture, the fervent and sometimes obsessive support for celebrities, has evolved dramatically over the years. While it used to be something that developed organically over time, it’s now a phenomenon that new artists experience almost instantly. This shift from gradual admiration to immediate, intense devotion has brought about a number of issues. With the rise of social media and the 24/7 news cycle, new artists are thrust into the spotlight and subjected to extreme levels of attention from day one. The internet has made it easy for fans to learn everything about an artist instantly, creating a sense of immediate intimacy and connection. The rapid escalation from casual fans to obsessive supporters can put immense pressure on fan dynamics, and it’s no wonder that newer artists want to remove themselves from the relationship altogether.