The controversy surrounding singer Chappell Roan and her security team’s interaction with the family of soccer star Jorginho Frello continues to unfold. Catherine Harding, the mother of 11-year-classic Ada Law – daughter of actor Jude Law – has publicly detailed the incident that occurred at a São Paulo hotel during Roan’s visit for Lollapalooza Brazil, adding a recent layer to the unfolding narrative.
Harding’s account centers on a brief, innocent encounter between her daughter and Roan, followed by what she describes as an aggressive confrontation by a security guard. The situation has sparked debate online, with Roan initially stating she was unaware of the incident and that the security guard was not part of her personal team. This latest statement from Harding challenges that narrative and raises questions about the security’s affiliation, and authority.
While acknowledging Roan’s claim that the security guard wasn’t her “personal security,” Harding expressed skepticism about his employment status. “100% this security guard was not a security guard of the hotel. That’s what I can say,” she stated, adding, “He looks after artists, so. I don’t know if it was her personal security guard, but he was with her. So that’s all I know.” Harding questioned whether Roan authorized the security guard’s actions, stating, “Did she send him to do it? Again, I don’t know.”
Harding recounted the events leading up to the confrontation, explaining that her daughter simply recognized Roan at breakfast and briefly looked in her direction. “Literally, we were staying in the same hotel. We were at breakfast. And we noticed a girl walk past with long red hair, very curly. And I said to my daughter, ‘Oh, do you feel that’s Chappell Roan?’ and she looked and she said, ‘Oh my God, Mum, do you think it’s her?’ And so she said, ‘I’m gonna go and have a look outside,’ and she was sat just outside in the garden area which we were likewise free to go into; the door was open.”
According to Harding, her daughter did not approach Roan, accept photos, or attempt to interact with the singer. “And so I went back to the table to sit and eat, and my daughter walked through the door. She didn’t have her phone, she didn’t try to take a picture, she didn’t approach her. She literally didn’t do anything; she just looked at her and smiled, and she came back and she actually said to me, ‘Mum, I don’t know if it’s her.’ Because obviously she looks like—you know, with her costumes and everything—she looks a little bit different.”
The situation escalated when the security guard approached their table, Harding said. “From that, then came the security guard who, as I said—as my husband said—had a very aggressive tone. And I feel like was—if she did not send him… I mean, even if she did send him or she didn’t send him, I don’t know. For me, I feel like it really overstepped a boundary because he is quite an intimidating—he is very large. So for him to come over to a table with just a woman and her daughter eating breakfast to kind of like berate and scold us and say that he was going to complain, and tell me that I should be teaching my daughter to be better and that she’s badly educated and we should respect people’s privacy and we should not harass people and all of these other things.”
Harding attempted to explain that her daughter’s actions were simply those of an excited fan. “And I did try and explain to him the situation—that she’s a child and she was just very excited to witness an artist and singer that she admires—and can he not understand that was all she was doing? I explained to him also that my husband is also very well-known and that we’re very—she’s very used to being around people that are well-known and she would never cross someone’s boundaries or overstep a mark. She very much knows the limits; not to ever, you know, be rude or make anyone feel… she understands; she understands very well.”
The security guard, Harding alleges, continued to be critical. “And I tried to explain this to him, and then he just kept saying, ‘Well, if you—if—if that’s the case, then Consider know better. You should know how This proves. You should know how it is, so you should teach your—you should teach her to be better. You shouldn’t allow her to be like this.’ And I was—I was shocked. And I did actually say to him at the time, I said, ‘Well, if this is the case that she doesn’t even want people to look at her, she is very welcome to eat breakfast in her room because this here is a public area and I am a paying guest as well as her. So if I want to walk past someone’s table and look at them, I have every right to do so. I am not approaching her. I’m not doing anything to make her feel intimidated or nothing—like this 11-year-old child.’”
The incident ultimately led Harding and her daughter to forgo their planned attendance at Roan’s Lollapalooza Brasil performance. “It was my daughter’s birthday present; she actually asked for tickets to come for her birthday present,” Harding explained. However, because of the incident, they did not end up going to the show.
Roan, in her initial response, stated she was unaware of the details of the encounter and emphasized that she does not harbor ill will towards her fans or children. Dexerto reports Roan said the security guard in question was “not my personal security.”
The situation has drawn attention from Brazilian officials, with Rio’s new mayor, Eduardo Cavaliere, stating Roan would not be welcome to perform on Copacabana Beach, ABC7NY reported.
As the investigation continues, the focus will likely turn to determining the security guard’s employer and the extent of any direction he may have received regarding interactions with fans. The incident highlights the complexities of navigating public spaces and fan encounters for high-profile figures and the importance of clear communication and responsible security protocols.
What comes next is dependent on whether Roan will address the specifics of Harding’s account and clarify the security guard’s role. Further statements from Roan or Frello are anticipated as the situation develops. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
