As we’ve explored throughout the podcast, the music industry loves to put people in a box. For pop stars, the expectations are strict – be a sexy, womanly figure that men will find desirable and keep your opinions to yourself. So how did Halsey become the pop star the refuses to fit into the stereotype?
But Halsey (she/they) can’t be contained by stereotypes or expectations of what “should be.” Since entering the spotlight at 20 years-old, Halsey has been very loud about being bisexual, biracial, and bipolar, but her personhood is much deeper than those labels. They’ve also advocated for women’s rights, reproductive health, Black Live Matter, and just to name a few causes they’re passionate about.
Throughout their career, Halsey has grappled with expressing every part of herself while combating the pressure to be the perfect pop star, and has often faced criticism for not being gay enough or female enough or black enough.
In this episode we’re diving into Halsey’s career to discuss the challenges she faced, what they’ve come to learn as a result of it, and how ultimately, her cult-like following of fans is what propelled her to stardom.
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Looking for similar episodes of the podcast, we’re happy to help! Past episodes we know you’ll enjoy – Like a Virgin: When Pop Stars Become Women & The Fight for Women to Own Their Sexuality: Objectification vs Empowerment
Sources for Halsey: The Pop Star that Refuses to Fit Your Stereotype
The Big Read – Halsey: “I can be feminine and delicate but also really fucking dangerous” (NME, Douglas Greenwood, 2018)
Inside Halsey’s Troubled Past, Chaotic Present (Rolling Stone, Alex Morris, 2016)
Halsey on Duetting With Bieber, Hating ‘Tri-Bi’ Label (Rolling Stone, Brian Hiatt, 2016)
What Does A Queer Pop Star Look Like In 2016? (Buzzfeed, Shannon Keating, 2016)
Halsey Responds to Buzzfeed Article, Says “Sorry I’m Not Gay Enough For You.” (Teen Vogue, De Elizabeth, 2016)
Halsey quits Twitter over abuse and fans have been reacting (BBC, 2016)
The Big Read – Halsey: “I can be feminine and delicate but also really fucking dangerous” (NME, Douglas Greenwood, 2018)
Halsey Says ‘Abortion Is A Right’ In Stirring Instagram Post (HuffPost, David Moye, 2019)
Halsey Slams Instagram Haters: ‘I’m Not A Real Human Being To You’ (HuffPost, Jenna Amatulli, 2020)
Halsey Speaks Up About White-Passing Privilege: ‘I’m Not Susceptible to the Same Violence’ (Glamour, Emily Tannenbaum, 2020)
Halsey Reclaims Her Agency as a Bi Woman in New Album ‘Manic’ (Advocate, Daniel Reynolds, 2020)
Halsey apologises for hoping basement of music site in World Trade Center would ‘collapse’ (The Independent, Clemence Michallon, 2020)
Halsey, pop’s new firebrand: ‘Nobody wants to be my friend. I’m drama by association’ (The Guardian, Eve Barlow, 2020)
Halsey Speaks Out After 2021 Grammy Nominations Snub: ‘It’s Not Always About the Music’ (Billboard, Mitchell Peters, 2020)
Halsey Claps Back at This Magazine That Misgendered Them (Out, Mey Rude, 2021)