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Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, known professionally as Lana Del Rey, is an American singer-songwriter who has been in the public eye since the release of her debut album in 2010. Since then, she has released several albums and received numerous accolades, including an MTV Video Music Award, three MTV Europe Music Awards, and two Brit Awards. However, in recent years, Del Rey has faced consistent backlash and criticism from fans and the media due to controversial statements and actions perceived as racially insensitive and tone-deaf. This has sparked discussions about her changing public image and the authenticity of her persona, with some speculating about her possible retirement from the music industry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Elizabeth Woolridge Grant |
| Known as | Lana Del Rey |
| Birth name | Lizzy Grant |
| Date of birth | 21 June 1985 |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Genre | Indie-pop |
| Albums | Born to Die, Ultraviolence, Chemtrails Over the Country Club, Norman Fucking Rockwell!, Blue Banister |
| Backlash | Comments perceived as racially insensitive, failure to recognize Black female artists' struggle |
| Response to backlash | Declared herself "definitely not racist" and "a girl's girl" |
| Retirement | Denied, said she'll "never stop making art" |
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What You'll Learn
Lana Del Rey's stage name
Born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant on June 21, 1985, the American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey has had a long and successful career. She is known for her unique sound, which blends classic jazz with modern trap and hip-hop. Lana Del Rey is not the singer's first or only stage name. Over the course of about eight years, she has had several different stage names, some of which were short-lived, while others were used for a few years.
The first known stage name used by Lana Del Rey was May Jailer, under which she released the album 'Sirens' in 2004. This was followed by Lizzy Grant, the singer's real name, under which she released a self-titled 4-track EP in 2008. She then used the name Lizzy Grant and the Phenomena, releasing two tracks in 2008. In 2010, she used the name Sparkle Jump Rope Queen, under which she released a 2-track EP called 'Sparkle Jump Rope Queen'. She then used the name Lana Del Ray, with a different spelling than her current stage name, for most of 2010, before changing it to Lana Del Rey.
Lana Del Rey explained her choice of stage name in an interview: "I wanted a name I could shape the music towards. I was going to Miami quite a lot at the time, speaking a lot of Spanish with my friends from Cuba – Lana Del Rey reminded us of the glamour of the seaside. It sounded gorgeous coming off the tip of the tongue." The name was also inspired by the actress Lana Turner, who embodied the Hollywood glamour she wanted to emulate, and the Ford Del Rey sedan, produced and sold in Brazil in the 1980s.
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Her career trajectory
Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, known professionally as Lana Del Rey, is an American singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the early 2010s. She graduated from Fordham University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy in 2008 and released a three-track EP, Kill Kill, under the name Lizzy Grant, before meeting her managers, Ben Mawson and Ed Millett, and signing with a major label.
Her debut album, "Born to Die", was released in 2012 to commercial success but also sparked controversy and accusations of cultural appropriation due to her portrayal of Native American and Latinx communities in her music videos. Del Rey's image and career trajectory were heavily discussed in the media, with some criticising the rapid speed at which she rose to fame, thanks in part to the internet.
Despite the backlash, Del Rey continued to release music and solidify her unique artistic vision. Her music is known for its melancholy exploration of glamour and romance, with frequent references to pop culture and 1950s-1970s Americana. She has received various accolades, including an MTV Video Music Award, three MTV Europe Music Awards, and two Brit Awards. Her sixth album, "Norman Fucking Rockwell", was released in 2019 to critical acclaim, with Pitchfork naming it the best release of the year.
However, Del Rey has also faced consistent criticism throughout her career, particularly regarding her defence of themes deemed anti-feminist by some listeners. In 2020, she shared a lengthy note on Instagram, doubling down on her stance and sparking further backlash. In 2021, she faced similar criticism for her comments on social media about the success of Black artists and her feelings of being excluded from feminism.
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Backlash from fans
Lana Del Rey has received criticism from fans throughout her career, with some accusing her of cultural appropriation and perpetuating stereotypes. In 2012, Del Rey donned a feathered headdress in the "Ride" music video, which led to accusations of appropriating Native American culture. The following year, she was criticised for her "Tropico" short film, which stereotyped Latinx gang culture.
In 2020, Del Rey faced backlash again for a lengthy Instagram note defending her fixation on themes deemed anti-feminist by some listeners. She has also been criticised for her comments on feminism, particularly in a 2014 interview where she stated that feminism was "not an interesting concept" to her. This, along with her success in a male-dominated industry, has led some to view her as "the epitome of white woman feminism".
In 2021, Del Rey faced further backlash for a statement in which she asked why Black artists like Beyoncé and Megan Thee Stallion were able to sing about "being sexy, wearing no clothes, fucking, cheating, etc." while she received criticism for singing about "challenging relationships". Her statement was deemed racially insensitive, with many interpreting it as undermining the success of Black artists. Del Rey responded to the backlash with an Instagram video declaring herself "definitely not racist" and "a girl's girl".
Del Rey has also faced criticism for her comments on the 2021 US Capitol riots, where she stated that the "madness of Trump [...] really needed to happen" to reflect the world's greatest problem of sociopathy and narcissism. This comment was met with negative reactions on Twitter, with some interpreting it as a dismissal of climate change as a pressing issue.
Additionally, Del Rey's decision to delete her Instagram account sparked speculation among fans about her career, with some interpreting it as an indication of her potential retirement from music.
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Political comments
Lana Del Rey has been criticised for her comments on feminism and race, and for her views on former US President Donald Trump.
Del Rey has been accused of being the "epitome of white woman feminism". In 2018, she feuded with rapper Azealia Banks, who accused her of being a "typical white woman" using a "weakened target" to "pretend" to be an ally. Del Rey has also been criticised for her comments on feminism, saying that it was ""just not an interesting concept" to her. She has also been called "anti-feminist" and an "inspiration for young women". In January 2021, Del Rey asked why there wasn't a "place in feminism for women who look and act like her".
Del Rey has also been accused of cultural appropriation, including for wearing a Native American headdress in her "Ride" music video in 2012, and for cosplaying as a chola stripper in the short film Tropico. In 2020, she was criticised for posting videos of looting during the L.A. protests against police brutality. She also received backlash for the album cover of her 2021 album Chemtrails Over the Country Club, which showed her surrounded by friends, including people of colour. She was accused of tokenism, to which she responded: "My best friends are rappers, my boyfriends have been rappers".
Del Rey has also been criticised for her views on former US President Donald Trump. She has said that "the madness of Trump… As bad as it was, it really needed to happen", and that the world needed a "reflection" of "sociopathy and narcissism". She also said that she didn't believe that Trump intended to incite the Capitol riots. Del Rey's comments led to speculation that she was a Trump supporter, although she had previously criticised him.
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Her personal life
Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, known professionally as Lana Del Rey, is an American singer-songwriter. She was born on 21 June 1985 and graduated from Fordham University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy in 2008. She released a three-track EP, Kill Kill, under the name Lizzy Grant, before adopting the stage name Lana Del Rey. She chose this name because it reminded her of the "glamour of the seaside" from her trips to Miami and her conversations in Spanish with Cuban friends.
Del Rey's personal life has been the subject of much public interest and scrutiny. She has received criticism and accusations of cultural appropriation for her portrayal of stereotypical characteristics of Native American and Latinx communities in her music videos. Notably, she wore a feathered headdress in the 2012 "Ride" music video and depicted Latinx gang culture in her 2013 "Tropico" short film. In a 2014 interview, Del Rey also stated that feminism was "not an interesting concept" to her, a comment that drew backlash and further criticism of her understanding of intersectionality and her role as an ally to women.
In 2020, Del Rey faced additional controversy after sharing a lengthy note on Instagram defending her creative choices and themes that some interpreted as anti-feminist. She has also been criticised for her comments about the violent riot at the US Capitol on 6 January 2021, where she stated that the "madness of Trump...really needed to happen" to reflect the world's greatest problem of sociopathy and narcissism.
Del Rey has also sparked discussion with her social media activity, including a comment on her own Instagram post, where she emphasised the diversity of her friends, and her deletion of her Instagram account, leading to speculation about her career plans. Despite facing backlash and criticism throughout her career, Del Rey has continued to achieve success and receive recognition for her musical talent, including being named one of the "200 Greatest Singers of All Time" by Rolling Stone in 2023.
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Frequently asked questions
Lana Del Rey is an American singer-songwriter. She has received various accolades, including an MTV Video Music Award, three MTV Europe Music Awards, two Brit Awards, two Billboard Women in Music awards, and a Satellite Award. She continues to make music and perform live.
Lana Del Rey's image has evolved since her early albums Born to Die and Ultraviolence. She has received backlash for her comments on feminism and race, with some critics arguing that she has failed to recognize the struggles of Black female artists.
No, Lana Del Rey has not retired. She has stated that she will "never stop making art". However, she has hinted at taking a break or adopting a new persona, with some fans speculating that she may return to her birth name, Lizzy Grant.
Lana Del Rey's album cover for "Chemtrails Over the Country Club" received criticism for its lack of diversity. The black-and-white cover features Del Rey surrounded by her friends, and her comments about the lack of people of color in the photo were deemed racially insensitive by some.
Lana Del Rey has faced backlash for her Instagram posts, particularly for comments that were perceived as racially insensitive and tone-deaf. She has also been criticized for her defense of former US President Trump and his supporters during the 2021 Capitol riots.
