Stardom is widely considered to be a double-edged sword. Along with the unparalleled adulation and fame that comes with being a celebrity, the criticisms and scrutiny of being in the public eye are factors that can affect any star. Lana Del Rey is someone who has seen both sides of the coin. The American singer-songwriter known for her distinctive style of music, was at the center of the cancel culture a few years back for certain controversies surrounding her actions.
From being called out for glamorizing abuse to being referred to as anti-feminist, Rey’s comments have thrown up many heated points of discussion among netizens and her colleagues on various social media platforms. So what did the singer say or do to ignite such fiery debates? Here are four major controversies that Lana Del Rey triggered over the years.
1. Lana Del Rey Was Trolled For Being Anti-Feminist
Being named one of the most influential singers/songwriters of the 21st century did not necessarily give Lana Del Rey unanimous popularity among listeners. The artist who is known for her opinions that she expressed through her music, has also earned negative reactions for the stances she has taken.
With many female listeners and artists feeling that her lyrics glorified abuse and propagated anti-feminism, Rey took to social media in 2020 following these criticisms and defended herself strongly. The Video Games singer challenged audiences to reassess her point of view which she believed, was an honest effort to empower women and bring to light the problematic issues surrounding beauty, physical appearance, and infidelity that plagued society.
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2. Lana Del Rey’s Black-And-White Cover Art Sparked Controversy
In 2021, Lana Del Rey unveiled a black-and-white cover art for her album Chemtrails Over the Country Club. In the picture which had a classic vintage feel to it, the singer is seen sitting at a table surrounded by a group of female friends. This outwardly pleasant and happy image became a topic of controversy involving color and race.
Viewers were quick to point out that all the women featured in the poster were white, and questioned Rey’s views on inclusivity. Responding to these criticisms against her, the singer took to Instagram (via Los Angeles Times) to eloquently establish her views and clarify misconceptions on the matter.
“I also want to say that with everything going on this year! And no this was not intended-these are my best friends, since you are asking today. And damn! As it happens when it comes to my amazing friends and this cover yes there are people of color on this records picture and that’s all I’ll say about that. We are all a beautiful mix of everything — some more than others, which is visible and celebrated in everything I do.”
Rey went on to gain a lot of critical acclaim and commercial praise for the album which touched upon various aspects of family, friendship, heartbreak, and nostalgia.
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3. Lana Del Rey And The Case Of The Face Mask
The long and arduous days of the COVID-19 pandemic also saw another controversy involving Lana del Rey. The Born to Die singer attended a book signing in Los Angeles while wearing a beige mask made from mesh and sparkles. The issue surrounding this mask was the fact that it looked to have no protective layer beneath, thereby running the risk of exposure. An article in The Michigan Daily took a scathing attack on Rey’s action by calling it insensitive and irresponsible.
“It seems such an insignificant misstep for an idol who the world has cherished for so long. But the pandemic has killed hundreds of thousands of people — a number so large, it seems unfathomable.”
Like she was forced to respond so many times before, the musician had to do damage control once more, and revealed that the mask was actually protected with plastic which was sewn on either side. The singer further proved that she took these comments with a pinch of salt by appearing in the same mask in a music video.
4. Lana Del Rey Faced Flak For Donald Trump Comment
Lana Del Rey has proved time and again that she is truly controversy’s child, and her 2021 Donald Trump comment earned her some severe backlash. The singer expressed her opinions on the infamous incident when the Capitol building was attacked by a mob of Trump supporters, two months after his defeat in the 2020 presidential election.
Following the event which everyone believed was largely triggered by Trump himself, Rey appeared on BBC Radio 1’s Future Sounds podcast (via Entertainment Weekly) to talk about her take on what had transpired. Unfortunately, her opinions on the issue seemed to indicate that she was actually justifying Trump’s deplorable actions in a twisted manner by pandering to his ignorance.
“He doesn’t know that he’s inciting a riot. I believe that. When someone is so deeply deficient in empathy, they may not know that they’re the bad guy’”.
This comment created a huge stir online with viewers from all corners questioning Rey’s credibility as an important pop culture figure, which once again resulted in the artist having to stand up for herself and her opinions.
