Former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Jorginho has retracted his previous comments directed at pop star Chappell Roan, expressing regret over the “impact this situation has had” on the artist known for her song “Pink Pony Club.”
Currently playing for Flamengo in Brazil, Jorginho faced backlash last month after he took to Instagram to criticize Roan, stating she “does not deserve” her fans’ admiration. His remarks followed an incident in Sao Paulo where Jorginho claimed a security guard confronted his wife and young daughter, a fan of Roan’s, in a supposed “aggressive” manner when they passed her table at breakfast.
The post quickly gained traction and sparked considerable controversy, even prompting Rio de Janeiro’s mayor, Eduardo Cavaliere, to propose a ban on Roan’s performances in the city.
In response, Roan stated that she was unaware of any confrontation, clarifying, “I didn’t even see a mother and child. No one approached me. No one bothered me.”
In his latest statement, Jorginho acknowledged he has “gained new information that has shifted my perspective on parts of the situation.”
“Chappell Roan publicly addressed the matter, reached out to Catherine [his wife], and our teams also communicated directly. It became evident that she had no knowledge of the incident at breakfast and had not instructed anyone to approach my family. She was both understanding and sympathetic regarding our child’s experience,” he explained.
Jorginho noted that the security guard confirmed he was representing another artist at the hotel, adding, “While it remains unclear why he approached my family, it is now apparent he was not acting on Chappell’s behalf.”
Expressing his regret, Jorginho stated, “Ultimately, it was a misunderstanding, and I’m relieved to clarify this. It’s important to me that the truth is accurately communicated. I regret how this situation has affected Chappell Roan, Catherine, Ada, and our family.”
“I will always defend my family, but I am also able to recognize when things aren’t as they first appeared,” he added.
Jorginho thanked those who supported his family during this sensitive period, emphasizing, “I want to clearly state that I do not condone hate speech or online harassment from any side. Respect, empathy, and humility are values I instill in my family every single day,” he affirmed.
“As far as I’m concerned, this matter is now resolved.”