Chappell Roan Channels Statue of Liberty at Governors Ball, Making Powerful Statement on ‘Freedom’

During her set at the New York City music festival, the ‘Casual’ singer took the stage dressed as the Statue of Liberty, complete with green body paint, a crown headpiece, a tube top, and a skirt. Her entrance was equally dramatic, emerging from a red apple, paying homage to the festival’s host city, New York, before kicking off her set with her hit ‘Femininomenon’.

Roan told the crowd she was “in drag” because she’s “the biggest queen of them all,” and then quoted the poem etched on the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free.” 

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She explained that these words signify freedom in trans rights, women’s rights, and freedom for all oppressed people in occupied territories. Her emotional delivery resonated deeply with the audience, as captured in a video shared by Rolling Stone on TikTok.

Roan’s powerful performance wasn’t just about the music but also about engaging and supporting the local queer community. She encouraged the crowd to tip the queens, highlighting the importance of redistributing funds within the community and giving a platform to drag queens, some of whom had never performed in front of such a large audience before.

-Sushmita Sarkar