Ruby Rodgers, the 16-year-old granddaughter of Australian rock icon Jimmy Barnes, has described experiencing sexual harassment from fans as she embarks on her own music career. Rodgers, who released her debut EP "Crisis" last year, stated that men old enough to be her father have engaged in predatory behavior towards her.
Rodgers, daughter of singer Mahalia Barnes, shared her experiences in an interview with news.com.au. She noted that she frequently encounters inappropriate advances at concerts and receives "out of pocket" direct messages online. "People seem to think they're entitled to you," Rodgers said, describing instances where fans touch her or speak to her in ways she finds unacceptable. She added that this normalized behavior has made many young women fearful.
Her new single, "Sixteen," addresses the complexities of her age and the blurred lines between childhood and adulthood. "At 16, you're not a kid anymore, but you're also not an adult. And so it's constantly being unsure of where you stand," Rodgers explained.
Rodgers began writing music in 2023 and released her EP through EMI Music Australia at the age of 15. Like her grandfather and mother, she uses music as an emotional outlet. "I've always been a sensitive person," she previously told Unraveled Edit. "But as I got older, I found writing, especially poetry, as an outlet."
Her father, musician Benjamin Rodgers, collaborated on the EP, contributing to the music for her lyrics. Rodgers expressed gratitude for the support her music has received, particularly from fans of her grandfather, despite her genre differing from theirs. She also acknowledged the opportunities her family lineage has provided, stating, "My family have played such a big part in my life and the opportunities I've had are absolutely thanks to my family and I think it's really important to appreciate that."