Why is the internet fighting over Chappell Roan?

Something strange happens when an artist blows up in the social media age. Their fans begin to think they own a piece of the artist's success or, more precariously, they start to believe the artist owes them for their ascent. And that situation becomes tenuous for the newly popular artist — not too long ago, their actions and statements belonged only to themselves. We live in parasocial times. That phenomenon has been unfolding online with Chappell Roan over the past week. As Mashable pointed out back in April, Roan quickly transitioned from a relatively small artist to the internet's favorite pop star in a short timeframe. SEE ALSO: Chappell Roan is the internet's new favorite pop star Recently, with that surge in popularity, a tense dynamic has emerged between Roan and her fans, primarily due to differing views on her public statements and the expectations of what fans feel they are owed. And, of course, the presidential election is involved, too. But it's clearly weighed on Roan, who has spoken openly about her struggles with mental health. Friday afternoon, she canceled a planned performance at New York City's All Things Go festival the weekend of Sept. 28. "I am unable to perform. Things have gotten overwhelming over the past few weeks and I am really feeling it," she said in a statement. "I feel pressures to prioritize a lot of things right now and I need a few days to prioritize my health. I want to be present when I perform and give the best shows possible. Thank you for understanding." While Roan didn’t address it directly, backlash from parts of the internet may have contributed to the high-profile cancellation. The festival, however, was still well-attended and reviewed. The band MUNA covered Roan's "Good Luck, Babe!" while expressing their love for her. During Roan's original timeslot, local drag queens hosted a singalong to some of the pop star's biggest hits that ultimately turned into a giant dance party. The vibes at All Things Go were salvaged. Stil