Chappell Roan’s performance at Lollapalooza in Chicago was chock-full of gag-worthy moments, from a massive crowd to a shady shoutout to a sublimely sapphic theme.

Even before Roan stepped on stage for her set on Thursday, the crowd was primed for some gay nonsense. Beating her to the stage was a group of absolutely jacked women, all pumping iron in swimsuits as the band played the opening notes to “Femininomenon.” Then Roan herself took the stage in a glam wrestling get-up straight out of Glow.

Did Roan just want to surround herself with beautiful women? Did she recently watch Love Lies Bleeding, and this was her way of getting Katy O’Brian’s attention? Or was a wrestling theme simply the next logical addition to the Chappell Roan multiverse? No matter the reason, we’re absolutely here for it.

Then there was Roan’s crowd itself: a staggeringly large audience that seemed to take up an entire half of Grant Park where the festival was held. Folks across the internet remarked that they’d never seen such a massive crowd for any artist at the festival, particularly for a non-headliner — though if Roan ever plays Lollapalooza again, she’s near guaranteed an end-of-the-night set after this performance.

Roan’s set itself was as fabulous as ever, including hits like “Good Luck, Babe!” and “Red Wine Supernova,” as well as the unreleased track “The Subway,” which fans are desperate to have on streaming services ASAP. 

One track got a special introduction from Roan that piqued fans’ curiosity. Before playing the vitriolic “My Kink is Karma,” Roan gave a speech aimed at an ex-lover. “I dedicate this song to my ex who was bragging that they dated me at the bar in my hometown,” she said, garnering screams from the crowd. “This is a message for your fianceé: You should break up!” 

Roan’s fans were obsessed not only with her audacity, but with the implication that she has insiders keeping an eye on her ex back at home.

It all adds up to yet another step on Roan’s journey to undeniable superstardom, and we couldn’t be luckier to be witnessing it in real time.

Related
Here’s why Chappell Roan says she’s not a Swiftie
Chappell Roan’s nearly been married twice, an old TikTok reveals

Help make sure LGBTQ+ stories are being told...

We can't rely on mainstream media to tell our stories. That's why we don't lock our articles behind a paywall. Will you support our mission with a contribution today?

Once Monthly Annually

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated