Black Twitter erupted on Thursday morning when Lana de Ray dropped a cultural bomb on the internet.
The singer/songwriter drafted a statement on what she perceives as a double standard in the music industry. She feels accused by critics that she is “glamorizing abuse” and that her music is anti-feminist. However, she came under fire for calling out artists, Cardi B, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj and Doja Cat for “being sexy, wearing no clothes [and] cheating … without being crucified.”
.@LanaDelRey questions the double standards she faces in new Instagram post:
“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.” pic.twitter.com/6GF0OT8p3d
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) May 21, 2020
In fact, of the six artists she named, only two were not of color (Arianna Grande and Camila Cabello). Well, Black Twitter wasn’t having any of it pushing her to the number one trending topic.
First off, not sure who came for Lana but they certainly weren’t from the culture. In fact, although all the artists she named have Number one hits galore, the only thing that connects them is the Billboard charts.
What’s blowing my mind is that Lana Del Rey is VERY successful. VERY accomplished. Her debut sold more records than names mentioned COMBINED. What is she talking about???
— MXM (@mxmsworld) May 21, 2020
Many perceived her naming a majority of female artists of color in her 6-person carousel as a nod to her privilege. She didn’t drag the artist’s, she dragged the “culture” for judging her artistry with a different standard. For Lana, she is just communicates her own femininity.
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
— shon faye. (@shonfaye) May 21, 2020
However, her argument is that she can be more easily judged as a pop artist and not a pop/hip-hop artist. Also, Lana is pushing back at the assumption that being less of a “boss” in a relationship is a bad thing. It has put her in the crosshairs of the feminism movement, the Bey Hive and the Nicki Minaj stans simultaneously.
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.
— C (@BOYCOTTCAMILLE) May 21, 2020
Still, this not Lana’s first time as a guest in the culture.
On September 30th, 2019, Del Rey was praised for confronting Kanye West over his continued support of Donald Trump. Rapper Azealia Banks then called out Del Rey.
Yes, conversations about misogynistic double standards ARE important. But don’t make yourself a martyr for the cause by bringing down other women to make a point. Feminism is already for delicate cisgender white women, Lana. You’ve had a place at the table for a long time.
— Kat Bee (@katbeee) May 21, 2020
“Don’t use Kanye for your own vapid attempts to seem politically aware when there is SO MUCH MORE bootleg witchcraft you could be doing to TRY and take down 45.
“Kanye is not your enemy or THE enemy” before posting on Instagram: “I’m tired of white women in Hollywood and their fake ass innocent agendas.”
I like Lana but her as a WOC, her statement just comes off as very tone deaf.
Mentioning a majority of black women in music who’ve all been literally crucified bc of their sexually explicit and trying to seem as tho it’s “easy” for them when it’s not is just not it.
— mani🦋 (@BLACKGIRLMANI) May 21, 2020
Not surprisingly, Del Ray was mostly dragged on Twitter but it still continues the question of “guests” in the culture.