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The Internet Is Debating Whether Or Not Chappell Roan Is An "Industry Plant," And I *Need* To Know What You Think

"It's actually so insane that people are calling Chappell Roan (a lesbian) an industry plant… the music industry would literally never."

Abby Zinman
by Abby Zinman

BuzzFeed Staff

If you're a millennial or Gen Z'er and you've been on the Internet as of recent, you know who Chappell Roan is. And if you don't, basically, she's a musician who has been absolutely blowing up over the past few months.

A performer with dramatic makeup and red fringe corset sings passionately while holding a microphone on stage
Getty Images / Via gettyimages.ca

And I don't think it can be overstated how QUICKLY she rose to fame. It was like one day, no one batted an eye at her opening for Olivia Rodrigo's GUTS World Tour, and the next, she had a Tiny Desk concert, several TikTok-viral songs, and a couple million Instagram followers. Plus, her recently-announced tour sold out in a matter of minutes (like, Eras Tour-level disappointment).

And although everyone loves her music, she's especially an icon for the queer community. She referred to her own music as "obnoxiously gay," and her song "HOT TO GO!" has been named a queer anthem alongside other recent songs like "Rush" by Troye Sivan — who actually Tweeted his support for Chappell 10 YEARS AGO.

i've had 16 year old girl on repeat for 2 months. you HAVE to listen to this, guys - go send some love. https://t.co/TwZnI2HnYo

— 👼🏼 (@troyesivan) November 5, 2014
Twitter: @troyesivan

This is her twitter ---> @kayleighrosefan. LETS BLOW KAYLEIGH UP BC I HAVENT HEARD A VOICE LIKE THIS SINCE ADELE, NO EXAGGERATION

— 👼🏼 (@troyesivan) November 5, 2014
Twitter: @troyesivan
And legit, if Troye Sivan is a fan of yours, you have all my respect.

Anyway, point is: she's super popular. So naturally, the Internet has come up with a theory, starting with one tweet alleging that Chappell Roan is the "clearest example of an industry plant." Which basically means she got popular by way of a major industry/ label push, all while masquerading around as "homegrown" talent.

we can all agree she’s the clearest example of an industry plant right? pic.twitter.com/29NUO1rNdD

— jude (@jfloridakilos) June 16, 2024
Twitter: @jfloridakilos

And on one hand, yes, she did become popular super quickly, making it hard to decipher how exactly she did rise to fame...

Twitter: @liedowndealer

i would not call chappell roan an industry plant but i *have* noticed that femininominon plays next every single time i listen to any album. the algo is doing something!

— Rebecca Fishbein (@bfishbfish) June 17, 2024
Twitter: @bfishbfish

Twitter: @coldandinspite

But she's also been in the game for quite awhile (like hello, those Troye Sivan tweets from 2014) with her only big success story coming now, so can that really qualify her as an industry plant?

Twitter: @elijahgemini

Twitter: @wonderfuljoey23

Twitter: @AtlasStylinson

insane to me that people claim Chappell Roan is an industry plant when I was her one listener in 2017, making everyone listen to Pink Pony Club with NO success. she is not an industry plant she is a ryan la sala plant!!!!

— Ryan La Sala (@theryanlasala) June 18, 2024
Twitter: @theryanlasala

Oh, and as if things couldn't get more heated, there's even been some infighting among Chappell Roan fans that only started because of this debate. It's a whole mess.

sure the industry plant argument is rude and tired and honestly misogynistic but saying “gay men don’t fuck with Chappell roan” is a wild statement lmao
Have u seen the crowd at her concerts? Half of it is gay men https://t.co/qGdkOZ1lRt

— lucas (@lucasloogie) June 18, 2024
Twitter: @lucasloogie

Basically, although the Internet is still undecided, Chappell Roan's fans have come to defend her honour. Because we all love funny online debates that really have nothing to do with us, here are some of the funniest reactions to this wild theory:

not now sweetie i have to argue with people online calling chappell roan an industry plant pic.twitter.com/vm2ocJKxX5

— sara ✨ (@gatekeepgerri) June 17, 2024
Twitter: @gatekeepgerri

me: did you hear chappell roan sold out. she's an industry plant. she's a nepo

my wife: the baby's crying

me: as he should be. it's upsetting

— ben (unintelligible) flores (@limitlessjest) June 18, 2024
Twitter: @limitlessjest

it’s actually so insane that people are calling chappell roan (a lesbian) an industry plant… the music industry would literally never

— mia (@diickvandyke) June 17, 2024
Twitter: @diickvandyke

while everyone is yelling about whether or not chappell roan is an industry plant, she did DIVINE DRAG at kentuckiana pride pic.twitter.com/6QpSujvQM6

— molly taft (@mollytaft) June 17, 2024
Twitter: @mollytaft

“chappell roan is an industry plant” WRONG! some of yall didnt see her open for declan mckenna at a teeny tiny venue in 2018 and it shows pic.twitter.com/HPZGyN8H8X

— да (@dietgothbf) June 17, 2024
Twitter: @dietgothbf

how can chappell roan be an industry plant when there is absolutely fuck all industry to plant in missouri

— ale 🤍 warsaw n1 ldn n7 (@aletoowelll) June 18, 2024
Twitter: @aletoowelll

WHOS CALLING CHAPPELL ROAN AN INDUSTRY PLANT??? WHO???? pic.twitter.com/VIH2LS9roz

— juju ✭ (@slaystayslay) June 18, 2024
Twitter: @slaystayslay

adding “industry plant” to words we have to take away from twitter users until they know what that means because I just saw someone call chappell roan an industry plant this morning

— maxx (the vampire guy) (@cxffncase) June 17, 2024
Twitter: @cxffncase

Twitter: @mirandareinert

I can promise you that the industry is not nearly smart or cool enough to plant someone like Chappell Roan

— elise (@LovelyLisey) June 18, 2024
Twitter: @LovelyLisey

And before I go, I just *need* to know your opinion on all of this — and I'd like to end this debate once and for all:

Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! And by the way, you should follow BuzzFeed Canada on TikTok and Instagram for more celeb content ✨