Lana Del Rey has taken to Twitter to condemn a number of media publications that reported on her contentious comments about inclusivity.
In response to articles published by Complex, and, uh, us, Lana Del Rey took an opportunity to clarify her stance on inclusivity, Donald Trump and the storming of the Capitol.
The articles in question reported on comments made by Lana at the unveiling of her album artwork, as well as her recent BBC Radio 1 interview with Annie Mac.
For context, earlier this week Lana Del Rey took to Instagram to share the album artwork for her forthcoming record Chemtrails Over the Country Club. Presumably, to get ahead of potential backlash, Lana was attempted to elaborate and justify the diverse women featured on the album’s artwork.
“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 but thank you,” she wrote in a since-deleted comment.
She continued, “My dearest friends have been from all over the place, so before you make comments again about a WOC/POC issue, I’m not the one storming the capital, I’m literally changing the world by putting my life and thoughts and love out there on the table 24 seven. Respect it.”
The comments prompted us to write this article, which insinuated that her remarks on inclusivity, specifically “my best friends are rappers my boyfriends have been rappers,” erred on the side of tone-deaf.
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Lana took umbrage with the article and penned a two-part response in a series of tweets, “I’m actually not tone deaf, I don’t think there’s anything tone deaf about responding to questions about why there are only white women on a album cover when that’s just not the case,” she wrote.
“I’m not gonna let people say that some thing is what it isn’t. You’re jealous I get it.”
“The music is great and it is important to talk about inclusivity,” she wrote in a follow-up tweet. “Which I don’t have an issue with, I’ve been super open about my issues are and that isn’t one of them. I just think it’s sad that you’re trying to paint one of the only artist who is genuine as otherwise.”
As a woman who has spent the past nine years haplessly worshipping at the altar of Lana Del Rey, getting called “jealous” by her over Twitter feels like the melancholy girls equivalent of receiving a knighthood.
I’m actually not tone deaf, I don’t think there’s anything tone deaf about responding to questions about why there are only white women on a album cover when that’s just not the case. I’m not gonna let people say that some thing is what it isn’t. You’re jealous I get it.
— Lana Del Rey (@LanaDelRey) January 12, 2021
The music is great and it is important to talk about inclusivity. Which I don’t have an issue with, I’ve been super open about my issues are and that isn’t one of them. I just think it’s sad that you’re trying to paint one of the only artist who is genuine as otherwise.
— Lana Del Rey (@LanaDelRey) January 12, 2021
I personally believe that Lana is often unfairly vindicated by the media but unfortunately we live in a depraved clickbait economy and one has to do what they’ve got to do to survive. If you wanna fuck with the eagles, you have to learn to fly.
In addition to our article, Lana Del Rey also responded to a news piece published by Complex titled “Lana Del Rey Doesn’t Believe Donald Trump Purposely Incited Capitol Riot.”
The article referenced Lana’s recent interview with Annie Mac in which she offered her insight into America’s current political landscape, the dominant culture of narcissism and Donald Trump’s stake in the Capitol riots.
“OK complex not that our 10 year relationship matters I guess Thanks for the cool soundbite taken out of context, I said that the bigger problem is Sociopathy-so whether he meant to incite a riot is less important than the larger issue in America at hand -the problem of sociopathy,” she wrote in response to the Complex article.
“It’s fucked up. You know I’m real. You know I voted for Biden. I’m super steady in everything I’ve ever said. You probably listened to my entire interview. So whoever wrote this is a genuine piece of shit. I am the one helping bringing the problem with narcissism to light. Gfys”
In a series of follow-up tweets, Lana Del Rey further illuminated her stance on the sociopathy and narcissism that has polluted American culture.
“Just to take a moment to say that what I was describing w the bbc was that Trump is so significantly impaired that he may not know what he was doing due to his significant lack of empathy and the wider ranging problem is the issue of sociopathy and narcissism in America,” she wrote.
She continued, “I’ll say it again I don’t appreciate the larger magazines taking my well-intentioned and believe it or not liberal comments out of context. It’s actually what I sing about quite often. It’s what I’ve been condemned for saying.
“I also want to say that I don’t appreciate complex magazine inferring that I thought it was right to storm the capital. After my long term relationship with them and exclusive interviews over the last 11 years I think it’s pathetic if Rolling Stone chimes in-same goes for them.”
Just to take a moment to say that what I was describing w the bbc was that Trump is so significantly impaired that he may not know what he was doing due to his significant lack of empathy and the wider ranging problem is the issue of sociopathy and narcissism in America.
— Lana Del Rey (@LanaDelRey) January 12, 2021
I’ll say it again I don’t appreciate the larger magazines taking my well-intentioned and believe it or not liberal comments out of context. It’s actually what I sing about quite often. It’s what I’ve been condemned for saying. You can listen to the entire interview.
— Lana Del Rey (@LanaDelRey) January 12, 2021
She also shared the below video, defending her comments on the BBC that were misconstrued by the media en masse.
“I get it, I have something to say. I was asked directly political questions for over forty minutes,” she said.
“When someone is so deeply deficient in empathy they may not know that they’re the bad guy. That may be a controversial opinion, but don’t make the controversy that I don’t think that he meant to incite the riot. It’s not the point is what I was saying. The general point is the wider-ranging issue of sociopathy and narcissism, that’s being reflected in our government.”
— Lana Del Rey (@LanaDelRey) January 12, 2021
It’s a weird predicament to be in as a music writer. Lana’s indictment of online clickbait journalism is justified and salient. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that pandering to the click economy leaves one feeling desolate and rotten. Morally I don’t know how sustainable this model we’re all forced to operate under is, economically I feel like it’s the only way to not sink. It’s another pitfall of the inescapable trenches of capitalism.
When we perform our clickable style of journalism we do so with the intention of the reader finding out more of what exactly was mentioned in the headline. Nuance doesn’t capture audience attention, so often we rely on the juiciest, most seductive quote to lure readers in. However, it’s a readers onus to digest what they read and form their own opinion, and you’ll often find that that clickable morsel is part of a bigger, balanced, more thoughtful picture.
My admiration and adoration for Lana remain unshaken. I love her for her chaotic feminity, her refusal to play the media-trained game, the way she has something to say and isn’t afraid to say it, despite the guarantee that it will likely cause a media circus. I truly believe that she is one of our greatest, most singular artists and I hope she never stops being glamorous.
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