At the dawn of a new decade, Lana Del Rey seemed poised at the summit of the indie-pop mountain. The songstress, now 40, was still riding the high of Norman Fucking Rockwell! — her career-topping sixth album, crowned as Pitchfork's best of 2019 and nominated for album of the year at the Grammys. As 2019 neared its close, Del Rey's first two albums, Born to Die and Ultraviolence, both landed on several decade-end lists. She was named one of the decade's defining artists by Business Insider.
But shortly after, Del Rey's behavior began to make more headlines than her music. Her reputation suffered a rapid downturn, thanks to a string of controversial public statements, questionable accessories, and a strong tendency to double down. Despite being cited as a major influence by stars like Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift, many fans have said they've 'lost respect' for Del Rey, and she became increasingly described online as a 'problematic white woman.' More recently, the singer has faced backlash for leaning into what listeners have described as a 'conservative Southerner vibe' with her music, aesthetics, and inner circle.
May 2020: Del Rey posts an unprompted public statement about her own reputation
It all began on May 21, 2020, when Del Rey shared a lengthy open letter on Instagram. Posed as a 'question for the culture,' Del Rey praised her own legacy and broadly described her critics as 'pathetic.' She name-dropped several artists of color, including Doja Cat, Ariana Grande, Camila Cabello, Cardi B, Kehlani, Nicki Minaj, and Beyoncé, asking why she cannot sing about being 'embodied' without being crucified. The post was widely criticized for reducing the work of Black women to stereotypes and for implying that Del Rey is more 'delicate' than them.
Six out of the seven people she mentioned were women of color, sparking accusations of racism. As Tulane University's Christine Capetola wrote, Del Rey 'failed to recognize Black female artists' decades-long struggle to express their sexualities on their own terms.' YouTuber D'Angelo Wallace commented that Del Rey was 'profiting off Black outrage to sell her album.'
Shortly after, Del Rey doubles down and insists that she's not racist
Del Rey's response to the backlash focused on her reasoning for naming specific artists. 'To be clear because I knowwww you love to twist things. I fucking love these singers and know them,' she wrote. She also said, 'I haven't had the same opportunity to express what I wanted without being completely decimated. And if you want to say that has something to do with race that's your opinion but that's not what I was saying.' She further claimed, 'Don't ever ever ever ever bro-call me racist because that is bullshit.' Many fans criticized her for being overly defensive and tone-deaf.
May 2020: Del Rey posts an additional statement accusing critics of wanting a 'race war'
One day after her original post, Del Rey continued to insist that her statement 'wasn't controversial at all.' In a new Instagram statement, she wrote, '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.' She also accused female critics of being 'disassociated from their own fragility and sexuality.' Fans noted that Del Rey's repeated self-characterization as a 'delicate' woman plays into racist stereotypes about white femininity and fragility.
Three days later, Del Rey makes a further attempt to defend herself — and compares herself to FKA twigs
On May 25, Del Rey posted a six-minute video on Instagram. She said, 'When I got on the pole, people call me a whore, but when twigs gets on the pole, it's art.' Many were angered by her comparison to the mixed-race artist, especially given twigs' personal history with pole dancing as a form of healing after surgery. Del Rey again refused to apologize, saying, 'Fuck off if you don't like the post.'
June 2020: Del Rey is called out by Black artists for sharing videos of protesters
During the Black Lives Matter protests following the death of George Floyd, Del Rey shared two Instagram videos showing protesters. Kehlani and Tinashe called her out for posting uncensored faces, which could endanger people. Del Rey eventually removed the videos.
October 2020: Del Rey comes under fire for wearing a mesh face mask
During a book signing for her poetry collection Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass, Del Rey appeared to wear a mesh-style mask, which did not meet CDC guidelines for blocking respiratory droplets. Fans expressed frustration, but she later claimed the mask had a plastic lining. She even poked fun at the controversy in her music video for 'Chemtrails Over the Country Club.'
January 2021: Del Rey unveils cover art for new album and preemptively defends it
The black-and-white cover for Chemtrails Over the Country Club shows Del Rey with friends, all of whom appear white. She preemptively commented, 'As it happens, there are people of color on this record's picture,' and said that 'my best friends are rappers, my boyfriends have been rappers.' This was criticized as using friendships with Black people to deflect racism accusations. She also claimed she was 'literally changing the world.'
January 2021: Del Rey criticized for saying Trump 'doesn't know' he's inciting a riot
In a BBC interview, Del Rey said President Trump 'doesn't know that he's inciting a riot,' referring to the January 6 Capitol riot. She added that Trump has 'delusions of grandeur' and that 'the madness of Trump needed to happen.' Many fans were outraged by her seemingly sympathetic tone toward the former president.
Shortly after, Del Rey lashes out at 'larger magazines'
Del Rey tweeted in response to Complex's coverage, accusing the outlet of taking her comments out of context. She called the journalist 'a genuine piece of shit' and defended her liberal credentials. She also responded to a blog called Tone Deaf, saying 'You're jealous I get it.'
September 2021: Del Rey deactivates her social media accounts
In a black-and-white video, Del Rey announced she was deactivating her Instagram and Twitter accounts, citing her many other interests and jobs requiring privacy. She later returned to Instagram under the handle @honeymoon but remains inactive on X.
March 2023: She includes a megachurch pastor's sermon on her album
On Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, Del Rey included 'Judah Smith Interlude,' featuring a sermon by Churchome pastor Judah Smith, who has made homophobic comments. Fans were divided, with some accusing her of giving a platform to anti-LGBTQ views and others defending it as ironic.
June 2023: Del Rey arrives 30 minutes late to Glastonbury
Del Rey was late to her headlining set at Glastonbury Festival, telling the crowd, 'My hair takes so long to do.' Her microphone was cut off due to curfew, but she encouraged fans to sing 'Video Games' acapella. Many criticized her lack of respect for fans.
September 2024: Del Rey marries Jeremy Dufrene, an alligator tour guide
Del Rey married Jeremy Dufrene in a bayou wedding in Louisiana. The marriage fueled speculation about her embracing a conservative lifestyle, as Dufrene's social media reportedly showed support for Trump. At the Variety Hitmakers ceremony, Del Rey praised him as an 'honest partner.' Meghan McCain interpreted her speech as 'code talking about being a conservative woman.'
April 2025: Del Rey sings about kissing Morgan Wallen during Stagecoach debut
During her first performance at the Stagecoach festival, Del Rey debuted a song called '57.5' with the lyric, 'I kissed Morgan Wallen.' Wallen has a history of using racial slurs and COVID violations. Fans reacted with mixed feelings, with some calling her a 'secret Republican' and others criticizing the association.
August 2025: Del Rey ignites a public feud with trans artist Ethel Cain
Del Rey shared a song snippet that included the line, 'Ethel Cain hated my Instagram post.' She claimed Cain had body-shamed her and posted unflattering images. Cain responded by wiping her social media and noted that Del Rey supporters were sending transphobic DMs. The feud highlighted Del Rey's ongoing pattern of addressing perceived slights through her music.
Throughout her career, Del Rey has consistently courted controversy, whether through her lyrics, aesthetic choices, or public statements. Her shift toward a more traditional, Southern-inspired persona has only deepened the divide between her and fans who once celebrated her as a feminist icon. As she continues to evolve, it remains to be seen whether she can win back those who have lost respect—or if she will embrace her role as a polarizing figure in pop culture.
Source: Yahoo Entertainment News