It comes as no shock thatLana Del Reyhas once againput herself in the middle of an internet feud. The “Video Games” singer continuously makes her opinions on her fellow artists known to the public, andEthel Cainhas gotten a piece of her mind this week.
Del Rey’s fervent fan base always defend their idol in matters of internet drama.Although she is usually the point of origin, does that mean she is in the wrong?Unlike other conflicts she has found herself in, the feud with Ethel Cain seems to be deeply personal. Navigating the murky waters of this seemingly petty drama makes it difficult to declare any one person the villain.
Lana Del Rey Calls Out Ethel Cain
This saga began whenDel Rey posted a short snippet of an upcoming song with the lyrics “Ethel Cain hated my Instagram post, think it’s cute reenacting my Chicago post,” and a line that referencesCain’s New York Times profile, “The Most Famous Girl In The Waffle House.”
Had the Waffle House line stood alone, it could have been argued this lyric was about Del Rey herself, who worked a shift at the chain in 2023. However, coupled with the first line,there is little room for speculation.
Fans have uncovered pieces of evidence that may have led to Del Rey’s distaste for the indie pop star. For starters, the “Chicago pose” seems to be a reference to a photo of Lana Del Rey and her ex, Jack Donoghue of the duo Salem, in Chicago. Ethel Cain has also taken a photo with Donoghue on the set of a music video, butthe two are only friends and collaborators.
Lana Del Rey claimed in an Instagram comment thatEthel Cain has made “constant comments about her weight"comparing her to different creatures in side by side images. To date,no solid proof of Ethel Cain posting anything comparing Lana Del Rey to any creatures has emerged. A dubious claim that an Ethel Cain tweet featuring the lyrics to “Peppers” with a gif of Peter Griffin dancing could be what Del Rey is referring to. However, the post seems to be a simple appreciation of the song.
Ethel Cain Was A Fan Of Lana
Ethel Cain’s digital footprint provides a plethora of evidence thatthe alternative pop singer has great admiration for Lana Del Rey. Across her many different Tumblr URLs she has praised the work of Del Rey. In the wake of the current controversy, fans have been circulatinga video of Cain singing “Mariner’s Apartment Complex"on her public Instagram story.
Ethel Cain has expressed frustration when being compared to her fellow artist,but not because she dislikes her. She has expressed on X that she feels that the work she creates is not as similar to Lana Del Rey’s discography as many reviewers claim. She once said “I love and respect Lana,” in a post complaining about media outlets drawing comparisons between them.
In the midst of the drama,Ethel Cain seems to be maintaining a sense of humor about it. She posted on her story: “update: Lana Del Rey has blocked Ethel Cain on Instagram,” spoofing the posts of entertainment drama accounts.
Nicki Minaj And Azelia Banks Join The Drama
Other artists have decided to poke their heads into this personal drama between Ethel Cain and Lana Del Rey. For lovers of online gossip,it is no surprise that the two stars that have decided to enter the arena are Nicki Minaj and Azelia Banks.
Minaj could not hold back her overflowing love for Lana Del Rey’s new song snippet online. The earworm got stuck in her head and she could not help but look into the lore behind her new favorite clip. She posted on X “I’m walking around all daysinging about a person named Ethel who I do not even know.”
This event seemed to give Nicki Minaj a new perspective on her own career. She reflected on how surreal it is that new fans will unknowingly recite her lyrics about her rivals in the same way she can not stop singing about Ethel Cain.
Azelia Banks entered the drama after Minaj did. She posted on X “everyone ganing up on Ethel Cain is transphobic.“She has decided to take a side in this ongoing fandom warwhilst Nicki Minaj seems simply entertained by the spectacle.
