Pop Stars Embrace Substack to Reframe Narratives

Charli XCX, Doechii, and Troye Sivan use the platform to have deeper conversations about pop stardom, identity, and more

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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A growing number of pop stars like Charli XCX, Doechii, and Troye Sivan are turning to Substack to publish long-form essays that challenge perceptions of stardom and give them more control over their narratives. The platform allows them to dive deeper into topics like the realities of being a pop star, racism in technology, and body image struggles in ways they can't on social media. While the comment sections still bring some resistance, the artists are using Substack to reframe how they communicate with their audiences.

Why it matters

As the parameters of pop spectatorship have become increasingly toxic online, with blind items, hate trains, and misinformation, many pop stars feel they can no longer control the conversation around them. Substack provides a space for artists to rewrite and re-contextualize their own narratives through thoughtful, long-form content, rather than relying on interviews or social media posts that can be taken out of context.

The details

Charli XCX, Doechii, and Troye Sivan have all launched Substack newsletters in the past year, using the platform to dive deep into topics like the realities of pop stardom, racism in technology, and body image struggles. Their essays challenge perceptions and give them more control over how they communicate with fans. While the comment sections still bring some resistance, the artists are using Substack to reframe how they engage with their audiences in a more thoughtful, unfiltered way.

  • Charli XCX launched her Substack newsletter in November 2022.
  • Doechii published her first Substack essay 'If You Were Writing to Black People, You Wouldn't Have to Edit So Much' in 2022.
  • Troye Sivan launched his Substack in January 2023, starting with essays about his shower routine and body image.

The players

Charli XCX

A pop star known for her outspoken views on the music industry and pop culture. She has used her Substack to share long-form essays challenging perceptions of stardom.

Doechii

A rising R&B/hip-hop artist who has published Substack essays exploring topics like racism in technology and writing directly to her Black audience.

Troye Sivan

A pop star who has used his Substack to share personal essays about his body image struggles and relationship with his appearance.

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What they’re saying

“I'm tired of speaking to 'everyone' through my music … I want to talk only to the people who can understand me the first time.”

— Doechii (Doechii's Substack)

“Going to use this as a mind dump … not unlike how I used to use tw*tter.”

— Troye Sivan (Troye Sivan's Substack)

“I've always been open in interviews about my art. People just haven't listened... or I've been taken out of context. Writing publicly lets me create the context.”

— Charli XCX (A Rabbit's Foot interview)

The takeaway

By using Substack to share unfiltered, long-form essays, pop stars like Charli XCX, Doechii, and Troye Sivan are taking back control of their narratives and challenging the toxic online discourse around celebrity. Their willingness to dive deep into personal and cultural topics offers a refreshing alternative to the sound bites and misinformation that often dominate discussions about pop stars.