The phrase "to pop the star" typically means to burst someone's bubble or expose their flaws or weaknesses. It refers to the action of revealing the truth behind someone's supposed greatness or talent. Full definition
The ranks of pop stars are overflowing with young men and women doing just that. (firstthings.com)
Now, she's one of the faces for the merchandise of perhaps the biggest pop star in the world. (relevantmagazine.com)
The problem, she says, is that many women scientists worried that dressing up with pop stars would make academics take them less seriously. (sciencemag.org)