Chappell Roan Did Nothing Wrong: The TikTok Smear Campaign Explained w/ Caroline Kwan
From Taylor Lorenz’s Power User by Taylor Lorenz
March 30, 2026 · 40 min
About this episode
Taylor Lorenz and Caroline Kwan discuss the viral smear campaign against Chappell Roan and the broader implications of social media controversies.
[SPECIAL BONUS EPISODE] Why the internet is trying to "end" Chappell Roan. Support my independent journalism: 🙏 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/taylorlorenz 🗞️ Buy a paid subscription to my Substack: https://www.usermag.co Twitch streamer and cultural commentator Caroline Kwan joins me to break down the massive viral controversy surrounding Chappell Roan. What started as a passing interaction at a hotel breakfast in Brazil has morphed into a multi-platform smear campaign led by TikTokers, pop stans, and "Blue MAGA" accounts, pushing blatant misinformation. Caroline and I break down what's really going on, and debunk the claims that Chappell is a "secret heiress" or a "mean girl". We talk about why Chappell specifically is always at the center of this type of vitriol, and dive into the intersection of misogyny, homophobia, and the "death of the diva" in the age of social media. From fake claims to bot amplification to stan wars, the Chappell situation a case study in how bad actors on the internet can create controversy out of almost nothing. In this video, we discuss: The Brazil incident with Jorginho Frello’s stepdaughter…
People in this episode
Host: Taylor Lorenz
Guest: Caroline Kwan
Topics covered
- Chappell Roan controversy
- social media smear campaigns
- misogyny and homophobia
- viral misinformation
- celebrity culture
- bot amplification
- double standards in media
Keywords
- Chappell Roan
- Caroline Kwan
- TikTok
- misinformation
- celebrity news
- social media
- viral controversy
- misogyny
- homophobia
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Wasserman Music, Epstein, TikTok, Blue MAGA
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