In the same lengthy Instagram post that songwriter Lana Del Rey confirmed her September 5 album release, she also addressed backlash from critics that her music “glamorizes abuse.” In the IG post, titled Question for the Culture, the award-winning singer and songwriter expressed that she is “crucified” for the type of music she chooses to make.
She also points out that other female artists like Cardi B, Doja Cat, Nicki Minaj, and Beyoncé have had number one hits with songs about “being sexy” and “wearing no clothes.”
“With all of the topics women are finally allowed to explore, I just want to say over the last 10 years, I think it’s pathetic that my minor lyrical exploration detailing my sometimes submissive or passive roles in my relationships has often made people say I’ve set women back hundreds of years,” she said in the IG post.
She goes on to explain that because she has been “honest” and “optimistic” about her past challenging relationships, she feels it helped pave the way for “other women to stop ‘putting on a happy face’ and to just be able to say whatever the hell they wanted to in their music.”
However, many people felt uncomfortable with Lana Del Rey naming other female artists, especially black women to make her point. Fans and critics flocked to social media to express their discomfort.
“What’s blowing my mind is that Lana Del Ray is very successful, very accomplished,” one user said, “Her debut album sold more records than names mentioned combined. What is she talking about?”
“I think Lana’s post would have been fine if she hadn’t compared herself to a group of mostly black women with the clear tone that she thinks she’s been treated worse by the media when that’s observably untrue,” another use said.
A third user wrote, “Lana blatantly ignoring the criticism Beyoncé, Nicki and other black women have received, and continue to, for being confident in their sexuality doesn’t sit right with me. Commercial success hasn’t made them exempt from misogynistic attacks masked as constructive criticism.”
Comments