Lionel Richie criticises rude celebs amid Chappell Roan's security guard controversy

Lionel Richie offered straightforward guidance for aspiring celebrities as Chappell Roan faces backlash over her own fan drama — and his point was direct: if you don't care for people, a life in the spotlight may not be for you.

The 76-year-old “Hello” singer discussed the biggest pitfalls artists encounter while seeking fame in a conversation with his son-in-law, Joel Madden, on the VEEPS Artist Friendly podcast.

“There’s one thing you didn’t consider,” Richie said. “I hope you enjoy being around people.”

“Because if you’re not fond of people, here’s how it goes. You spend the early part of your career saying, ‘Notice me, notice me, notice me, notice me, notice me.’ And once you achieve fame, it becomes ‘Don’t notice me. Don’t notice me. Don’t notice me.’”

Roan, 28, has faced backlash after a series of fan-related incidents, including past comments where she labelled some followers as “weird” and “creepy,” as well as a reported event in Brazil where a young fan was supposedly approached by a bodyguard after seeing the singer at a hotel.

For Richie, this change in attitude marks where celebrities falter.

“You received what you wished for,” he expressed. “You want to be well-known and wealthy without involving the public? It doesn’t work that way. You must learn to connect.”

Madden, who’s married to Richie’s daughter Nicole Richie, says he’s witnessed that approach unfold in real life for many years.

“I observe you engaging with people,” Madden commented, recalling Richie’s interactions with fans, even during casual moments such as walking through a restaurant.

Rather than avoiding eye contact, Richie engages. “Hello, how’s everything?” he’ll ask — even if the fan hasn’t gathered the courage to approach first.

Even his children have sometimes asked why he makes the effort.

For Richie, the explanation is clear. “There was a time I wasn’t noticed,” he reflected. “They want to communicate with you. You can see it written on their face. Ignoring them would be the worst thing I could do.”

Good Charlotte’s Madden admitted it took him time to grasp this mentality, remembering how he used to get annoyed by people staring — until he realised they simply felt shy.

Now, Richie’s positive reputation seems to precede him everywhere. “Your father-in-law was here — he’s great,” people frequently say to him at airports, hotels, and concert venues.

Yet, Richie cautioned that word-of-mouth can spread both positively and negatively.