Not to be queer and make an incredibly obvious joke, but Chappell Roan quite literally slayed the audience — and possibly compulsory heterosexuality itself — during her debut performance at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards. Dressed in full chainmail armor and wielding a crossbow, the sapphic pop princess exited the gates of a burning castle to fight off an army of sword-carrying knights during a show-stopping rendition of “Good Luck, Babe.”
Just as she teased during her interview at the VMAs pre-show, Roan delivered a technically demanding stage show that served drama. Drag performer — and Roan’s personal idol — Sasha Colby herself introduced the sapphic superstar in a tear-jerking opening speech.
“Pop music is inclusive, no matter what you look like or who you love, it’s for everyone,” Colby said. “You’re favorite drag queen’s favorite artist, here is my daughter, Chappell Roan.”
As violins trilled, the Midwest Medieval Princess sported long braids and a stoic expression as she marched bravely out to face off against a crowd of knights — and look, you don’t have to have a gender studies degree to decipher what Roan is trying to say here! The singer had traded out the long flowing dress she wore on the VMAs red carpet for a suit of armor, which she needed for the musical battle that ensured. She belted out the lyrics with her signature vocal power as flames shot out of the fortress and the army of dancers whirled around her with swords.
It was a scene straight out of a fairytale, in which the warrior princess fights against all odds, perhaps for the love of the princess or maybe for the rights of queer people everywhere. It’s safe to say that Roan’s elaborate performance was one of the stand-out moments of the night. After a year of headline-grabbing looks and record-setting crowds, our expectations were high, and Chappell Roan soared right over them.
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