Role Model Says His Long-Running Bit About Wanting an Hermès Birkin ‘Went Too Far,’ Admits He Now Owns One ‘By Mistake’

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Role Model admitted that his long-running joke about needing to sell albums in order to buy an Hermès Birkin bag “went too far”

“I didn’t want a Birkin. Ever. That was not real,” the singer told Vanity Fair during his lie detector test interview

The musician was also asked about Norwegian soccer star Erling Haaland’s Birkin collection

Role Model is setting the record straight about his long-running bit with fans.

The musician, 29, was questioned about his obsession with Hermès Birkin bags during his Vanity Fair lie detector test interview published on Monday, Aug. 17.

Throughout the multi-year promotion of his 2026 album Chuck Timely & The Hourglass, Role Model joked with fans that he needed to sell records in order to buy one of the rare Hermès handbags. In a video shared to TikTok in May, the “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out” singer revealed that he finally got a Birkin bag by holding up a black version with gold hardware.

“Yes, I own one,” he told Vanity Fair. “It’s black, and it was given to me.”

He continued, “The joke went too far … I didn’t want a Birkin. Ever. That was not real. Do I own one now, by mistake? Yes. Did I pay for it? No.”

When asked who gifted him the Birkin, Role Model replied, “I can’t say. I can’t say. It was a man, though. It’s always a man.”

The musician was then asked if he thinks Norwegian soccer star Erling Haaland copied his love of Birkin bags.

“No, I don’t think he copied me,” Role Model replied when shown a photo of Haaland carrying one of the handbags. “And the one he’s holding isn’t really my style anyways.”

“I don’t like silver hardware,” he later explained. “I’m kind of OCD about gold. Matchy matchy.”

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Throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Haaland sparked buzz online for his collection of Hermès bags. As pointed out by content creator and “clutch connoisseur” Jack Savoie, the Manchester City F.C. pro has not been shy about showing off the multiple luxury bags, some of them rare, in his possession.

Also in the 25-year-old athlete’s collection — according to Savoie — is an Hermès Black and Orange H Togo HAC Casaque Birkin 40 with palladium hardware. Sotheby’s actually had a listing for a pre-owned piece, which was sold for $33,000.

Savoie also noted that Haaland has been seen carrying the French label’s Evercalf Toile Cargo Haut A Courroies Birkin 40 Handbag, with one currently available on Revolve’s website for $50,000.

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