‘It was a misunderstanding’: Italian soccer star says singer had no involvement in security guard incident in Brazil
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Italian soccer star Jorginho is walking back his earlier criticism of pop singer Chappell Roan after a viral incident at a hotel in Brazil that spiraled into online outrage and a wave of memes.
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According to the Daily Mail, the 34-year-old midfielder has now issued a formal clarification, saying Roan was not responsible for a confrontation that left his 11-year-old stepdaughter in tears. The situation, he now says, was a “misunderstanding.”
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Jorginho shared a lengthy Instagram statement Monday, confirming the matter is closed and acknowledging that Roan had no involvement in the incident, per the Daily Mail.
A shift from his earlier, more critical tone
“It’s important to me that this is clarified fairly and accurately. I regret the impact this situation has had on Chappell Roan, Catherine, Ada, and our family,” he wrote to his five million followers.
The drama dates back to last month during Lollapalooza Brazil in Sao Paulo. Jorginho’s wife, singer Catherine Harding, and her daughter Ada — Harding’s child with actor Jude Law— were having breakfast at their hotel when they spotted Roan, who was in town to perform.
In an earlier March 21 Instagram post, previously reported in the Toronto Sun, Jorginho said the interaction started innocently. His stepdaughter recognized the singer, walked past her table, smiled and returned to her seat without saying anything. But he claimed a security guard then approached them “in an extremely aggressive manner,” accusing the child of being disrespectful.
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At the time, Jorginho appears to blame Roan directly
According to The Washington Post, he criticized the singer publicly, writing: “It’s sad to see this kind of treatment coming from those who should understand the importance of fans.” He even went further, tagging Roan and adding in all caps: “WITHOUT YOUR FANS, YOU WOULD BE NOTHING. AND TO THE FANS, SHE DOES NOT DESERVE YOUR AFFECTION.”
That post lit a fire online. Roan, already a polarizing figure when it comes to fame and fan interactions, quickly became the centre of backlash. The Washington Post noted the singer has been open about her discomfort with celebrity culture. She previously went viral on TikTok in 2024 for calling out what she sees as entitlement from fans in public spaces.
‘I do not hate children’
As the backlash grew, Roan responded with a video of her own. She said she had no idea the interaction even happened.
“I do not hate people wo are fans of my music. I do not hate children,” she said with a laugh, per The Washington Post. “Like, that is crazy!” She added that she never saw a woman and child at breakfast and did not send a security guard to speak to them. Still, she apologized to Harding and Ada, saying she was saddened they felt uncomfortable.
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Story, by then, had taken on a life of its own
Social media filled with jokes and memes about Roan “hating children.” Even the mayor of Rio de Janeiro weighed in, condemning the alleged behaviour and offering support to Jorginho’s family, according to The Washington Post.
Harding also shared her perspective in a video, though she admitted she didn’t know whether Roan had actually sent the guard.
Another plot twist
A few days later, the security guard involved — identified as Pascal Duvier — publicly took responsibility. In an Instagram statement on March 25, he said he was not working for Roan at all.
“I was at the hotel on behalf of another individual, and I was not part of the personal security team of Chappell Roan,” he said. “The actions I took were not on behalf of Chappell Roan, her personal security team, her management, or any other individuals.” He added that his interaction was “calm” and well-intentioned, though he acknowledged the outcome was “regretful.”
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Even with that clarification, the story kept circulating.
Weeks later, Jorginho tries to put story to rest
In his latest statement, Jorginho admitted his initial reaction came “in the heat of the moment” after hearing his wife and child were approached in what he believed was an intimidating way.
“I reacted as any father would,” he said, emphasizing that protecting his family remains his top priority.
According to BBC.com, Jorginho — who now plays for Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro and holds dual Brazilian citizenship — said new information changed his understanding of what happened. He confirmed the security guard was representing another artist at the hotel and not Roan.
‘She had no knowledge of what took place’
He also revealed that Roan reached out privately to Harding and that their teams spoke directly.
“It became clear that she had no knowledge of what took place at breakfast and had not asked anyone to approach them,” he wrote. “She was understanding and sympathetic to what happened to our child.”
In the end, Jorginho called the whole situation what it now appears to be: A misunderstanding.
“It was, ultimately, a misunderstanding in that respect,” he said, “and I am glad to set the record straight.”
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