Sarah Gundle, Guest Columnist

Chappell Roan Made Discomfort in Motherhood Seem Like a Bad Thing

The pop star’s comments comparing parenthood to “hell” garnered both support and criticism, but both sides appeared to be operating under a flawed assumption.

April 8, 2025 at 1:00 PM UTC

By Sarah Gundle

Sarah Gundle, PsyD is a psychologist in private practice and an assistant clinical professor at the Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center.

Chappell Roan performing at the 2025 Grammy Awards.
Photographer: Kevin Winter/Getty Images North America

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“All of my friends who have kids are in hell.”

When Chappell Roan said these words on a recent episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, she probably didn’t foresee the online firestorm they would create. The 27-year-old pop star went on to say that she doesn’t know anyone her age with children who is “happy, well-rested, or has light in their eyes.”