Award-winning singer and songwriter Lana Del Rey gave a lengthy Instagram post on Thursday defending her music against critics who claim it glamorizes abuse.
In what appears to start as a question for the culture, Del Rey, 34, ask readers:
“Now that Doja Cat, Ariana [Grande], Camila [Cabello], Cardi B, Kehlani and Nicki Minaj and Beyonce have had number ones with songs about being sexy, wearing no clothes, f**king, 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??????” her message begins.
The award-winning singer and songwriter, whose real name is Elizabeth Grant has been in the industry for over a decade and is well-known for her themes of tragic romance in songs such as “Ultraviolence” and “Summertime Sadness.” These songs, among others, have been an outlet for her to be honest and optimistic about past relationships.
However, some critics have reviewed Del Rey as “literally hysterical” and an artist who “glamorizes abuse.” But now, The “Born to Die” singer wants to let critics know that she’s “fed up” with female writers and alt singers who feel this way. Instead of the former, she would like for critics to see her as a glamorous person who sings about the realities of emotional abuse that we all know prevalently exist.
She believes her lyrical openness has paved the way for many female artists to express their truths, but when it comes to her music, she gets hit with a hard-double standard.
“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…….” It’s been a long 10 years of bulls**t reviewers up until recently, and I’ve learned a lot from them, but I also feel it really paved 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,” she writes.
Del Rey also noted that she is not a feminist but feels “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.”
Despite Del Rey’s defense of criticism, she may have opened up the door for more criticism. In fact, many took to social media to voice their opinions on her self-pity rant and their disapproval in her decision to named drop other female artists as if they haven’t received harsher critique.
The Grammy-nominated singer did not name her critics, but she did announce the upcoming September release of her seventh album as well as two poetry books that will further detail the feelings of her post.
