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The Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Cavaliere, has officially banned pop star Chappell Roan from performing at the city’s major music events, including the “Todo Mundo no Rio” festival. The decision follows a viral incident at a São Paulo hotel that reportedly left an 11-year-old girl in tears.
The controversy began when professional soccer star Jorginho Frello, who currently plays for Flamengo, posted a detailed account of an interaction involving his wife, Catherine Harding, and his stepdaughter, Ada Law (the daughter of actor Jude Law). According to Jorginho, the family was having breakfast at the same hotel as Roan when Ada recognized the singer. Jorginho claimed that while the child merely looked and smiled at Roan without approaching her, a security guard, purportedly acting on behalf of the singer, confronted the family in an “extremely aggressive” manner.
The guard allegedly accused the 11-year-old of “disrespect” and “harassment,” threatening to file a complaint with the hotel. Jorginho stated that his daughter was “extremely shaken and cried a lot,” adding that the treatment was “sad to see” from an artist who relies on fan support.
Mayor Cavaliere, who recently assumed office, quickly weighed in on X (formerly Twitter), siding with the family. “As long as I’m in charge of our city, this young lady @ChappellRoan will never perform at Todo Mundo no Rio!” he wrote. He further contrasted her behavior with that of other global stars, stating, “I doubt that Shakira would do that!” To emphasize his stance, Cavaliere officially invited Jorginho’s daughter to attend the upcoming May edition of the festival as a “guest of honor.”
Chappell Roan addressed the allegations via her Instagram Story, expressing deep regret for the situation. The Grammy-winning singer clarified that the security guard involved was not part of her personal team and that she was completely unaware of the interaction as it happened.
“I did not ask the security guard to go up to talk to this mother and child,” Roan stated. “I do not hate people who are fans of my music. I do not hate children… If you felt uncomfortable, that really upsets me. You didn’t deserve that.” Despite her apology, the ban remains in place, further fueling the ongoing debate regarding celebrity boundaries and fan interactions in the digital age.
