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Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, known professionally as Lana Del Rey, is an American singer-songwriter who has faced backlash for her comments on feminism, race, and politics. Del Rey, who rose to fame in the early 2010s, has been accused of being racially insensitive, failing to recognize the struggles of Black female artists, and profiting off Black outrage to sell her album. She has also made controversial statements about the 2021 US Capitol riot, claiming that the madness of Trump was necessary to expose the world's greatest problem of sociopathy and narcissism. These incidents have led to discussions about her changing public image and speculation about her future in the music industry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Public perception | Fans have turned on Lana Del Rey, describing her as "the epitome of white woman feminism" |
| Career trajectory | Del Rey's career has been marked by a shift from a "vintage diva, gangster, obsessed with fame, money, toxic love and dependent relationships" to a more mature and confident artist |
| Reputation | Del Rey has faced backlash for her comments on feminism, race, and politics, including her defense of her own reputation and statements about the 2021 US Capitol riot |
| Stage name | Initially used the spelling "Lana Del Ray" for her self-titled debut album, released in 2010 |
| Personal life | Expressed a desire for a "normal" life |
| Artistic expression | Del Rey has stated she'll never stop making art and may continue to create music under different personas |
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What You'll Learn
Lana Del Rey's stage name
Born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, Lana Del Rey is the singer-songwriter's current stage name. Before settling on this name, she had several other stage names, including May Jailer, Lizzy Grant, Lizzy Grant and the Phenomena, Sparkle Jump Rope Queen, and Lana Rey Del Mar. The name Lana Del Rey was inspired by actress Lana Turner and the Ford Del Rey sedan, produced and sold in Brazil in the 1980s. The name reminded her of the "glamour of the seaside" and sounded "gorgeous coming off the tip of the tongue".
Lana Del Rey's debut album, released in January 2010, was called 'Lana Del Ray' and used the alternate spelling of her current stage name. Her self-titled EP also used this spelling. She met her managers, Ben Mawson and Ed Millett, three months after the release of this album, and they helped her get out of her contract with 5 Points Records, where she felt "nothing was happening".
Lana Del Rey has stated that she chose her stage name because she wanted "a name I could shape the music towards". She has had many different stage names over the years, with some being very short-lived and others lasting a few years. It is speculated that she may retire this stage name and go back to being known as Lizzy or Lizzie, or adopt a new persona entirely.
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Her career trajectory
Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, known professionally as Lana Del Rey, is an American singer-songwriter. 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, featuring production by Kahne. She chose the stage name Lana Del Rey, inspired by actress Lana Turner and the Ford Del Rey sedan, for her feature debut album.
Her self-titled debut album, released in January 2010, was briefly available for purchase on iTunes before being withdrawn in April 2010. She then met her managers, Ben Mawson and Ed Millett, who helped her get out of her contract with 5 Points Records. Prior to the release of her debut major-label album, Born to Die, in 2012, Del Rey was the subject of several articles discussing her image and career trajectory. Despite the huge backlash, her first two albums, Born to Die and Ultraviolence, both landed on several decade-end lists.
In 2018, she announced her sixth album, Norman Fucking Rockwell, which was preceded by the singles "Mariners Apartment Complex", "Venice Bitch", "Hope Is a Dangerous Thing for a Woman like Me to Have – but I Have It", and "Doin' Time". The album received widespread critical acclaim and was deemed a "pop classic" by Rob Sheffield in his review for Rolling Stone. Pitchfork named it the best release of 2019, and it was nominated for album of the year at the Grammy Awards.
In 2021, Del Rey faced backlash for her comments on feminism and race, with some accusing her of being racially insensitive and profiting off Black outrage to sell her album. Despite this, she has continued to make music and perform live, with fans noting that she seems more comfortable and confident in her skin.
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Backlash from fans
Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, known professionally as Lana Del Rey, has faced backlash from her fans since early 2020. The backlash started when Del Rey posted an unprompted public statement defending her reputation. She has been described as the "epitome of white woman feminism". Del Rey, a white woman, has been criticised for complaining about feminism lacking space for her while simultaneously critiquing the acclaim allotted to several Black pop artists.
In January 2021, Del Rey posted on Twitter about the violent riot at the US Capitol on 6 January 2021, when pro-Trump supporters stormed the building after attending a nearby Trump rally. She said:
> "The madness of Trump… As bad as it was, it really needed to happen. We really needed a reflection of our world's greatest problem, which is not climate change but sociopathy and narcissism. Especially in America. It's going to kill the world. It's not capitalism, it's narcissism."
One person replied on Twitter: "Lana stans gonna be doing some mental gymnastics to explain this one."
Del Rey has also been criticised for painting herself as a "doe-eyed victim" and failing to recognise the struggles of Black, Asian and Latin women. In response to this backlash, Del Rey posted an Instagram video to declare herself "definitely not racist" and "a girl's girl".
In addition to the backlash, there has also been speculation about Del Rey's retirement. Some fans have interpreted her recent behaviour as an indication that she will retire and revert to her birth name, Lizzy Grant. However, others have dismissed these speculations as mere conspiracies.
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Political comments
Lana Del Rey has been criticised for her comments on feminism, race, and US politics. In 2021, she faced backlash for her comments about former US President Donald Trump, saying that his "madness" and "delusions of grandeur" reflected the world's greatest problem of "sociopathy and narcissism". She also said that Trump had no knowledge of "inciting a riot" and that his election "needed to happen". These comments were seen as controversial, especially given Trump's history of making inflammatory statements.
Del Rey has also been accused of appropriating imagery and culture that she has no right to, such as donning a Native American war bonnet in her "Ride" music video and cosplaying as a chola stripper in the short film Tropico. She has also been criticised for glamorising abuse, with the single cover art for "Blue Jeans" featuring a man's hand choking her.
In addition, Del Rey has been called out for her comments on feminism, particularly her statement that feminism is "just not an interesting concept" to her. She has also said that there is no place in feminism for women who look and act like her, which has been perceived as racially insensitive and perpetuating white woman feminism.
Del Rey has also faced criticism for her response to the 2020 US presidential election and the COVID-19 pandemic. She posted videos of looting during the L.A. protests against police brutality and attended a book signing during the pandemic while wearing a mesh face mask, which was not considered effective in preventing the spread of the virus.
While Del Rey has faced significant backlash for her comments and actions, she has also been praised for her music and impact on the industry. She has received numerous awards and accolades and has been recognised as one of the most influential singer-songwriters of her time.
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Retirement rumours
In 2023, Lana Del Rey fans took to Reddit to discuss the possibility of the singer retiring. Some fans were concerned that she would retire, while others thought that she had already produced enough music to satisfy them if she did. One fan speculated that she might retire from her public persona to live a "normal" life, or that she might continue making music under her birth name, Lizzy Grant.
Lana Del Rey has faced consistent backlash since 2020, which may have contributed to retirement rumours. She has been accused of appropriating Black culture in her music and aesthetic, and of perpetuating "white woman feminism". In 2021, she also made comments about the violent riot at the US Capitol on January 6, which some interpreted as a defence of the insurrectionists.
Despite the rumours and backlash, Lana Del Rey has continued to make music and perform live. She has released several albums since the initial retirement rumours began, including 'Chemtrails Over the Country Club' and her career-topping sixth album, 'Norman Fucking Rockwell!'. She has also received numerous accolades for her music, including being placed on Rolling Stone's list of the "200 Greatest Singers of All Time".
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Frequently asked questions
Elizabeth Woolridge Grant. She is also known as Lizzy Grant.
Her debut album was called 'Lana Del Ray', released in January 2010.
Lana Del Rey is an American singer-songwriter known for her music's melancholy exploration of glamor and romance, with frequent references to pop culture and 1950s–1970s Americana. She has received various accolades, including MTV, Billboard, and Brit Awards.
Lana Del Rey has faced backlash for her comments on feminism and race. She has been accused of being racially insensitive and not an ally to women.
Yes, Lana Del Rey has continued to release music and perform live. She has stated that she will "never stop making art".
