A music industry executive's criticism of Chappell Roan's 2025 Grammy acceptance speech has sparked controversy, with Halsey stepping in to defend the Best New Artist winner.

Former A&R executive Jeff Rabhan, who worked at Atlantic and Elektra Records, wrote a guest column for The Hollywood Reporter titled "Chappell Groan: The Misguided Rhetoric of an Instant Industry Insider." The piece criticized Roan's call for labels to provide artists with healthcare benefits and living wages, claiming she was "broadcasting naivete" while attacking the industry that supported her success.

Halsey responded forcefully on Instagram, calling Rabhan's column a "ranting, seething tantrum" that misrepresented artists' experiences. She emphasized that label advances typically only cover basic survival needs while creating music, which prevents artists from maintaining other employment.

During her acceptance speech, Roan referenced her own experience of being dropped by Atlantic in 2020, highlighting the lack of healthcare despite her complete dedication to the label. "It was so devastating to feel so committed to my art and to feel so betrayed by the system and to be so dehumanized to not have healthcare," she stated.

Halsey defended Roan's decade-long journey in the industry, arguing that comparing her to established artists like Taylor Swift was inappropriate given her relatively recent success. She concluded by calling out The Hollywood Reporter for publishing what she termed a "personal attack disguised as critical journalism."

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