A music industry executive's criticism of Chappell Roan's 2025 Grammy Best New Artist acceptance speech has sparked controversy, with Halsey coming to Roan's defense.

Former A&R executive Jeff Rabhan, who worked at Atlantic and Elektra Records, wrote a guest column for The Hollywood Reporter criticizing Roan's call for labels to provide healthcare benefits and living wages to artists. Rabhan, now CEO of Bored-of-Ed, characterized Roan's speech as "hackneyed and plagiarized," suggesting she was "broadcasting naivete" while attacking the industry that supported her success.

Halsey strongly rebutted Rabhan's claims on Instagram, calling his column a "ranting, seething tantrum" that oversimplified artists' experiences. She emphasized that label advances typically only cover basic survival needs, noting that album creation often prevents artists from maintaining regular employment.

During her acceptance speech, Roan referenced her previous experience of being dropped by Atlantic in 2020, highlighting the personal impact of lacking healthcare while fully committed to her art. "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 further defended Roan by pointing out her decade-long journey in the industry, challenging Rabhan's characterization of her as an "instant industry insider." She criticized the comparison of Roan's influence to established artists like Taylor Swift, noting that Roan hasn't yet experienced the full benefits of her recent success.

The controversy highlights ongoing debates about artist welfare and fair compensation in the music industry, particularly regarding healthcare benefits and sustainable living wages for emerging artists.

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