Singer Chappell Roan Responds to Allegations of Security Mishandling Fan
Pop sensation Chappell Roan has addressed a public accusation made by former Arsenal footballer Jorginho Frello, who alleged that her security team caused his 11-year-old stepdaughter distress. The incident reportedly occurred at a São Paulo hotel where both Frello’s family and Roan were staying during the Lollapalooza music festival.
In a statement shared via Instagram Stories on Sunday, March 22nd, Roan offered her perspective on the events, clarifying that the security guard involved was not her personal guard and that she did not witness the alleged interaction. She stated, “I did not ask the security guard to go up and talk to this mother and child. I did not. They did not come up to me, they weren’t doing anything.”
Roan expressed that she found it unfair for any security personnel to make assumptions about people’s intentions without any cause. “It’s unfair for the security guard to assume ‘someone doesn’t have good intentions when they have no reason to believe, because there’s no action being taken’,” she explained. She further emphasised her positive regard for her fans, stating clearly, “I do not hate people who are fans of my music, nor do I hate children.”
Concluding her statement, Roan conveyed her regret to the mother and child involved. “I am sorry to the mother and the child that someone was assuming something, that you would do something, and if that made you uncomfortable,” she said. “That makes me really sad. You did not deserve that.”
The Footballer’s Account of the Incident
The controversy arose after Jorginho Frello, the former midfielder for Arsenal, detailed what he described as an “upsetting” encounter involving his wife, Cat Cavelli (also known as Catherine Harding), and her daughter from a previous relationship with actor Jude Law.
Frello recounted that his stepdaughter, an ardent admirer of Chappell Roan, woke up with considerable excitement. She had even prepared a sign in anticipation of seeing the artist she “really admires, or used to admire.” According to Frello, his daughter, as any child would, recognised Roan and became visibly excited. However, he stressed that she did not approach the singer directly.
“My daughter, like any child, recognised her, got excited, and just wanted to make sure it was really her,” Frello wrote on social media. “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.”
Allegations of Aggressive Security Intervention
Frello described the subsequent actions as “completely disproportionate.” He claimed that a “large security guard” approached their table during breakfast and began speaking aggressively to both his wife and daughter.
“A large security guard came over to their table while 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,” Frello alleged. He expressed confusion as to how the minimal interaction could be construed as harassment.
The situation escalated, with the security guard reportedly threatening to file a complaint with the hotel. “He even said he would file a complaint against them with the hotel, while my 11-year-old daughter was sitting there in tears. My daughter was extremely shaken and cried a lot,” Frello recounted.
Reflections on Fan Respect and Boundaries
Drawing from his own experiences in the public eye, Frello highlighted his understanding of “respect and boundaries.” He asserted that the incident did not align with these principles, stating, “What happened there was not that. It was just a child admiring someone.”
He expressed disappointment that such treatment would come from individuals who should appreciate the significance of fans. “It’s sad to see this kind of treatment coming from those who should understand the importance of fans. At the end of the day, they are the ones who build all of this,” he commented. Frello concluded his statement with a pointed message to Roan: “I sincerely hope this serves as a moment of reflection. No one should have to go through this, especially not a child. @chappellroan WITHOUT YOUR FANS, YOU WOULD BE NOTHING. AND TO THE FANS, SHE DOES NOT DESERVE YOUR AFFECTION.”
The Mother’s Perspective
Catherine Harding, the child’s mother, also shared her account via social media in a video detailing the experience. She corroborated Frello’s statement, explaining that her daughter had not done anything to warrant the security guard’s intervention.
“She literally didn’t do anything; she just looked at her and smiled. She came back and she actually said to me ‘Mum, I don’t know if it’s her.’ Because obviously she looked like, you know, with her costumes and everything, she looks a little bit different,” Ms Harding stated.
Ms Harding confirmed that a security guard approached them with an “aggressive tone” to “berate and scold” them while they were eating breakfast. She felt the interaction, regardless of who initiated it, “really overstepped a boundary.”
