In a lengthy new video, Lana Del Rey took to instagram to address the controversy and backlash that has been surrounding her due to a note she posted on social media last Thursday.
In this note, the 34-year-old singer took to Instagram to write “Now that Doja Cat, Ariana, Camila, Cardi B, Kehlani and Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé have had number ones with songs about being sexy, wearing no clothes, cheating etc – can I please go back to singing about being embodied, feeling beautiful by being in love even if the relationship is not perfect, or dancing for money – or whatever I want – without being crucified or saying that I’m glamorizing abuse??????”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAcQPuBJdir/
She clarified her stance saying “I’m not not a feminist – but there has to be a place in feminism for women who look and act like me – the kind of woman who says no but men hear yes – the kind of women who are slated mercilessly for being their authentic, delicate selves, the kind of women who get their own stories and voices taken away from them by stronger women or by men who hate women.”
The internet flooded with several memes about Del Rey’s statement. Critics were quick to point out that the women referenced in this post were predominantly women of color, with most of them being either African American and/or Latina, with the exception of Grande, who identifies as Italian American.
https://twitter.com/sexismymedicine/status/1263590357360500739?s=20
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Del Rey however was quick to deny this accusation. “This is sad to make it about a WOC issue when I’m talking about my favourite singers,” she wrote in a comment below her post. A few days later, the singer posted what she called “a couple of final notes on my ‘controversial post’ that was not controversial at all.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAghpnsJ8Sm/
“I’m sorry that the folks who I can only assume are super Trump/Pence supporters or hyper liberals or flip-flopping headline grabbing critics can’t read and want to make it a race war,” the artist penned. “But in truth making it about race says so much more about you than it does about me — you want the drama,” she added. “you don’t want to believe that a woman could be beautiful, strong, and fragile at the same time, loving and all inclusive by making personal reparations simply for the joy of doing it.”
Most recently, the singer posted a six-minute video of herself addressing the original post and the criticism that followed it saying “The culture is super sick right now and the fact that they want to turn my post, my advocacy for fragility, into a race war, its really bad.” She said “When I mentioned women that look like me, I didn’t mean white like me. I mean the kind of women who other people might not believe.” The singer revealed that since her post, she has received thousands of spiteful comments and her phone number was leaked, adding “It’s the opposite of the spirit of an advocate. It’s what causes fragility, but it’s not gonna stop me. Period.”
(Warning: Video contains explicit language.)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAmxUDpgO8Y/
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Del Rey concluded the video by saying “I’m not the enemy, and I’m definitely not racist, so don’t get it twisted. Nobody gets to tell your story except for you, and that’s what I’m gonna do in the next couple of books.”
In the same video, she also revealed that her album, releasing September 5, will be titled ‘Chemtrails Over The Country Club.’
