SÃO PAULO, Brazil — Pop sensation Chappell Roan found herself defending her actions Sunday following claims by soccer player Jorginho that security personnel treated his young stepdaughter poorly after she spotted the Grammy-winning artist at their hotel.
The Brazilian-Italian midfielder, who plays for Flamengo and goes by his first name professionally, detailed the incident in a bilingual Instagram post Saturday. According to Jorginho Frello, his wife and 11-year-old stepdaughter were eating breakfast at their São Paulo hotel when Roan, who is visiting Brazil for the Lollapalooza music festival, walked by their table.
“During breakfast, the artist walked past their table. My daughter, like any child, recognized her, got excited and just wanted to make sure it was really her,” Jorginho wrote. The young girl is the child of Catherine Harding, Jorginho’s spouse, and British actor Jude Law.
The soccer star emphasized that his stepdaughter remained quiet and made no requests, but claimed a security officer approached their table and addressed both his wife and daughter “in an extremely aggressive manner.”
Jorginho went on to suggest that Roan was unworthy of her supporters’ loyalty.
The “Good Luck, Babe!” singer took to Instagram the following day to share her perspective on what happened. Roan clarified that the security personnel involved were not part of her personal team and stated she never observed a woman with a child during the incident.
“It’s unfair for security to just assume someone doesn’t have good intentions,” Roan stated. “I do not hate people who are fans of my music. I do no hate children.”
The dispute caught the attention of Rio de Janeiro’s newly installed Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere, who inserted himself into the controversy Saturday evening. He declared that under his leadership, Roan would be banned from performing at Copacabana Beach, where international stars like Madonna and Lady Gaga have held concerts, and where Shakira is scheduled to perform in May.
“I doubt that Shakira would do that!” Cavaliere remarked, announcing that Jorginho’s stepdaughter would receive VIP treatment at the Colombian artist’s upcoming free beachside show. Cavaliere assumed office Friday, succeeding former Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes.
The 26-year-old performer, known for her openly queer identity and drag-influenced aesthetic, became a breakout star in 2024 with hits including “Red Wine Supernova” and “Hot To Go!” from her 2023 release “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.”
Roan claimed the Grammy Award for best new artist this past February, beating out Sabrina Carpenter for the honor.
Following the social media exchange, Jorginho shared footage of his stepdaughter’s enthusiastic response to attending Carpenter’s Lollapalooza performance. “Everything is well with the girls, and thanks for the messages,” he posted.
