Gilbert Flores/Billboard
Following Jorginho’s public grievance and Chappell Roan’s subsequent rebuttal, Catherine Harding—the soccer star’s wife and mother to the young girl at the center of the dispute—is now offering her own perspective on the unsettling hotel encounter.
In a video shared to Instagram on Sunday, March 22, Harding—who performs under the name Cat Cavelli and previously competed on The Voice UK—explained that she felt compelled to speak out due to the overwhelming response to her husband’s earlier post. Jorginho had previously alleged that a security guard accompanying Roan acted with “extreme aggression” toward his 11-year-old stepdaughter, Ada, during a breakfast service in São Paulo, leaving the child visibly distressed.
“I am aware Chappell has stated it wasn’t her security and that she wasn’t involved,” Harding noted. Harding, who shares Ada with former partner Jude Law, countered this by asserting, “This individual was unequivocally not a member of the hotel’s staff.”
Harding continued, explaining that the man in question clearly works within the music industry. “Whether he was her personal guard or not, he was part of her entourage. While I hope she didn’t direct his actions, celebrities must take accountability for the conduct of those representing them in public.”
Recounting the morning’s events, Harding mentioned that Ada simply spotted a girl with red hair who looked like Roan—whom they were excited to see headline Lollapalooza Brazil that evening. The young girl walked past the singer’s table merely to confirm her identity. “She didn’t have a phone, she didn’t seek an autograph, and she didn’t interrupt,” Harding clarified. “She just looked and smiled.”
According to Harding, this prompted the guard to approach their table with a “hostile demeanor.” She described the interaction as a breach of social boundaries, noting that the guard’s physical stature and tone were quite intimidating to a mother and child.
“To have a large man loom over a table where a woman and child are eating just to reprimand us was shocking,” Harding added. “I told him at the time that if she requires total privacy from onlookers, she should perhaps dine in her suite rather than a communal area.”
Harding reportedly tried to reason with the guard, explaining that Ada is accustomed to being around high-profile figures because of her father’s career and understands how to respect personal space. However, the guard allegedly remained belligerent. Harding concluded by expressing disappointment that her daughter’s birthday trip was marred by the incident, adding, “I hope Roan ensures her team treats people with more respect in the future.”
The controversy escalated after Jorginho’s initial Instagram Story on Saturday, where the athlete criticized the “Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” singer. He argued that artists should value their supporters, stating that without fans, they “would be nothing,” and suggested Roan did not deserve the public’s affection.
Roan eventually addressed the situation, claiming she was entirely unaware that an encounter had even taken place. She clarified that the man involved was not her “personal” security detail. “I did not authorize anyone to confront this family,” the pop star stated in a video response. “I have no ill will toward fans or children. I am truly sorry to the mother and daughter; you didn’t deserve to be treated that way.”
Despite the apology, the fallout has continued. Eduardo Cavaliere, the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, issued a statement on Saturday banning Roan from future performances at the “Todo Mundo no Rio” concert series following the reports. Jorginho notably expressed his approval of the decision with heart emojis on the announcement.
Seeking to end the trip on a positive note, Harding later shared a photo of Ada meeting another Lollapalooza headliner, Lewis Capaldi. She praised the Scottish singer for his “genuine kindness,” contrasting the experience with the earlier confrontation.
