Chappell Roan is facing criticism from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security following comments she made during a recent concert in Los Angeles.
During the first of two performances at Brookside at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on Friday (Oct. 11), the 27-year-old pop star paused her hit-filled set to reflect on her appreciation for her adopted hometown.
“L.A.’s my favorite city in the world, to be honest,” Roan told the crowd, according to Variety. “I’ve been living here nine years. I’m originally from Missouri and I had a really, really tough time the first five years.”
She went on to speak about the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area and the community’s response.
“I’m not gonna be eloquent about this,” she continued. “I loved L.A. more than ever than when I saw how the community came together in Altadena to help, same with the Palisades, I just realized that I’m so lucky to be able to live here and to play here, and the city has taken care of me, and it’s my duty to take care of it back.”
She then concluded her remarks with a pointed political statement. “F—k ICE forever,” the singer said. Roan repeated the phrase, prompting members of the crowd to chant along.
The Department of Homeland Security quickly responded. “‘Pink Pony Club’ is good. Pedophiles are bad. That’s who we’re getting off of our streets. Get a grip,” DHS assistant secretary for public affairs Tricia McLaughlin told TMZ.
Roan’s comments come at a particularly tense moment for immigrant communities in the U.S., who have increasingly found themselves the target of aggressive ICE operations. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker recently described them as “military-style” raids. President Donald Trump has made mass deportations a central part of his second term.
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