Role Model Admits He Botched His Olivia Rodrigo Cover for BBC

American alt-pop singer Role Model (real name Tucker Pillsbury, from Maine) has publicly admitted that his BBC cover of an Olivia Rodrigo song didn't come off the way he wanted. Stereogum published the report on August 12, 2026, framing it as a rare bit of self-critique from an artist who has built momentum largely through live appearances.

What happened

Per Stereogum, the admission came from Role Model himself rather than from outside criticism — he's the one who said the performance was a flub. The specific song covered and the full broadcast schedule for the BBC segment have not been made public.

In the same piece, Stereogum was blunt that while Role Model keeps landing festival bookings, his live performances haven't been consistently well-received.

Recent moves

Role Model's highest-profile recent appearance was on Saturday Night Live last year, where he brought out Charli XCX to dance with him onstage — a moment that gave him a notable visibility spike. He has otherwise continued to show up regularly on festival lineups.