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Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, known professionally as Lana Del Rey, is an American singer-songwriter. She has received various accolades, including an MTV Video Music Award, three MTV Europe Music Awards, and two Brit Awards. However, despite her success, Del Rey has faced consistent backlash since early 2020, with some fans turning on her after a series of controversial statements and actions. This has sparked discussions about her changing image and career trajectory, as well as speculation about her potential retirement or transition to a new persona.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Elizabeth Woolridge Grant |
| Known as | Lana Del Rey |
| Previously known as | Lizzy Grant |
| Profession | Singer-songwriter |
| Music style | Melancholy exploration of glamor and romance with references to pop culture and 1950s–1970s Americana |
| Awards | MTV Video Music Award, three MTV Europe Music Awards, two Brit Awards, two Billboard Women in Music awards, a Satellite Award |
| Nominations | Eleven Grammy Awards and a Golden Globe Award |
| Backlash | Comments about feminism, race, and politics |
| Recent album | Chemtrails Over the Country Club |
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What You'll Learn
Backlash from fans
Lana Del Rey has faced criticism from her fans since early 2020. The backlash started when Del Rey posted an unprompted public statement defending her reputation. She has since been described as ""the epitome of white woman feminism". In addition to her reductive descriptions of their music, Del Rey has also been criticised for her failure to recognise Black female artists' decades-long struggle to express their sexualities within the realm of pop music. Del Rey implied that she is more "delicate" than her peers and that feminism is intolerant of "women who look and act like me". One critic wrote that Del Rey's "optics... complaining about feminism lacking space for her while critiquing the acclaim allotted to several Black pop artists is mortifying".
In response to the violent riot at the US Capitol on 6 January 2021, when pro-Trump supporters stormed the building, Del Rey commented that "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". This comment received backlash from fans, with one person replying on Twitter: "Lana stans gonna be doing some mental gymnastics to explain this one".
Del Rey's album announcement was amplified by media coverage of the controversy. YouTuber D'Angelo Wallace said in a video titled "Lana Del Rey has Lana Del LOST IT": "Was Lana Del Rey profiting off Black outrage to sell her album? Yes".
In February 2021, Del Rey posted a controversial Instagram statement, asking why there wasn't a "place in feminism for women who look and act like" her. This statement received immense backlash for sounding racially insensitive, leading Del Rey to declare herself ""definitely not racist" and a "girl's girl" in an Instagram video.
Some fans have noted a change in Del Rey's image and music since her early career. One fan commented that from her album ""Born to Die" to "LFL", Del Rey was a "big character, vintage diva, gangster, obsessed with fame, money, toxic love and dependent relationships". They noted that by the end of "LFL", Del Rey wanted to move away from these themes and that with her album ""NFR", she became her true self, Lizzy Grant, a grown and mature woman who writes poetry about her everyday life.
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Political comments
Lana Del Rey has been the subject of much controversy over the years, with her comments on feminism, race, and politics sparking backlash and accusations of racism, white feminism, and glamorizing abuse.
Del Rey has distanced herself from the concept of feminism, stating that she is "just not really that interested". She has also questioned why there isn't a "place in feminism for women who look and act" like her, a comment that received backlash for its racial insensitivity. Del Rey has been criticized for her comments on race, including her belief that she is incapable of being racist because she has "dated rappers" and had "boyfriends [who] are rappers". She has also been accused of tokenism, particularly in her defense of the cover art for her album "Chemtrails Over the Country Club", which showed her surrounded by friends, including people of color.
The singer has also been criticized for her comments about former US President Donald Trump. In an interview, she stated that "the madness of Trump… As bad as it was, it really needed to happen," suggesting that his presidency reflected the world's greatest problem of sociopathy and narcissism. She also said that she didn't believe Trump intended to incite the riots at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, and that he had delusions of grandeur. These comments were seen as controversial and led to accusations of playing the victim and of white feminism.
Del Rey has also been criticized for her comments about other celebrities, including Kanye West and Taylor Swift. She criticized West's support of Trump, calling him out for his delusions of grandeur and "extreme issues with narcissism". She also took issue with Swift's feminist rebrand, stating that feminism was "just not an interesting concept" to her.
In addition to the above, Del Rey has received backlash for her comments on the #MeToo movement, her glamorization of abusive relationships in her music, and her defense of other celebrities' problematic actions. She has also been criticized for her response to the L.A. protests against police brutality, where she posted videos of looting, and for wearing a mesh mask to a book signing, which was seen as putting lives at risk.
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Feminism comments
Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, known professionally as Lana Del Rey, is an American singer-songwriter who has received both acclaim and criticism for her work. While she has been recognised as one of the "most influential singer-songwriters of the 21st century" and included on lists of the "greatest singers of all time", she has also faced backlash for her public statements and behaviour, with some fans turning on her and critics describing her as "the epitome of white woman feminism".
Del Rey has been accused of perpetuating racist and sexist attitudes, particularly in her comments about feminism and her defence of her own reputation. In one instance, she implied that feminism is intolerant of "women who look and act like me", and asked why there wasn't a "place in feminism" for women like her. This statement was criticised as racially insensitive, with some interpreting it as a dismissal of the struggles faced by women of colour in the music industry. Del Rey later declared herself "definitely not racist" and "a girl's girl" in an Instagram video.
In another incident, Del Rey commented on the violent riot at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, by pro-Trump supporters. She stated that "the madness of Trump… As bad as it was, it really needed to happen", arguing that it reflected the world's greatest problem of sociopathy and narcissism, particularly in America. This comment sparked backlash on social media, with some interpreting it as a defence of Trump and his supporters.
Del Rey has also been criticised for her portrayal of women in her music and public image. Some commentators argue that, while she has found success within a male-dominated industry, she is not an ally to women, particularly those from marginalised communities. They accuse her of perpetuating a victim narrative that ignores the systemic discrimination faced by women of colour and instead promotes an "All Lives Matter" perspective.
Despite the controversies, Del Rey continues to have a dedicated fan base and has released multiple albums since the start of the controversies in early 2020. Her album "Chemtrails Over the Country Club" and its cover artwork sparked further criticism, with some accusing her of profiting off Black outrage to sell her album. However, others have defended her, arguing that she is simply expressing her authentic self and that her comments are being taken out of context.
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Album art controversy
On 10 January 2021, Lana Del Rey shared the cover art for her upcoming album, *Chemtrails Over the Country Club*, on Instagram. The artwork features a black-and-white photo of Del Rey and a group of women dressed in vintage attire, seated at a table covered with a checkered tablecloth. The back cover includes the track list along with a faded photo of Del Rey among the women, one of whom is wearing a face mask.
Del Rey's Instagram caption for the album art sparked controversy. She wrote:
> "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 colour on this record’s picture and that’s all I’ll say about that but thank you."
The post received backlash for spotlighting women of colour and for Del Rey's defence of the apparent lack of diversity in the album art. In response to the criticism, Del Rey denied that her post was an attack on the artists she named, calling out "flip-flopping headline-grabbing critics (who) can’t read and want to make it a race war". She also stated that she is "definitely not racist".
In April 2021, Del Rey revealed the cover art for her new album, *Blue Banisters*, which was also criticised for its amateurish design. Fans speculated that the artist had designed it herself using a free online editing tool.
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Retirement speculation
Speculation about Lana Del Rey's retirement has been circulating since early 2020, when the singer faced backlash for a series of controversial statements. The controversy began when Del Rey posted a public statement defending her reputation, which was met with criticism and accusations of racial insensitivity. In her statement, Del Rey, whose real name is Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, implied that feminism is intolerant of women who look and act like her. This sparked a debate about Del Rey's role as a white woman within the context of feminism and the music industry. Some commentators accused her of benefiting from white privilege and failing to recognize the struggles of Black female artists.
Del Rey has also faced criticism for her comments about the 2021 violent riot at the US Capitol by pro-Trump supporters. In an interview, she stated that the "madness of Trump" was necessary to reflect the world's greatest problem, which she identified as sociopathy and narcissism. This comment sparked further backlash, with some interpreting it as a justification of the Capitol riot.
Amid the controversy, some fans have speculated about Del Rey's retirement. In a Reddit discussion, fans noted that Del Rey had become more emotional during live performances and that her recent album hinted at a desire to live a "normal" life. However, others disagreed, arguing that Del Rey was simply being more authentic and comfortable in her skin.
While it is unclear whether Del Rey plans to retire from music, she has stated that she will never stop making art. In the past, she has expressed a desire to write poetry and explore different personas. Despite the speculation and criticism, Del Rey remains a celebrated singer-songwriter, recognized for her unique style and influence on 21st-century music.
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Frequently asked questions
No, she has said she'll never stop making art. In a post on Reddit, a fan speculated that she might take a long break, retire her stage name, or adopt a new persona.
Lana Del Rey has faced backlash since early 2020. She has been described as "the epitome of white woman feminism" and accused of being racially insensitive. She has also been criticised for her comments on the violent riot at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Her name is Elizabeth Woolridge Grant. She adopted the stage name Lana Del Rey, inspired by actress Lana Turner and the Ford Del Rey sedan produced and sold in Brazil in the 1980s.
