Lana Del Rey.Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Lana Del Reyis facing backlash after speaking out about the importance she places on inclusivity.
On Sunday night, the singer shared the artwork for her upcoming albumChemtrails Over the Country Clubon Instagram. Theblack-and-white photofeatures a group of women dressed in vintage attire, seated at a table covered with a checkered tablecloth. Del Rey also showed off theback of the album, which includes the track list along with a faded photo of the star, 35, among the women — one of whom is noticeably wearing a face mask.
“I also want to say that with everything going on this year! And no this was not intended — these are my best friends, since you are asking today,” she began the comment. “And damn! As it happens when it comes to my amazing friends and this cover yes there are people of color on this records picture and that’s all I’ll say about that but thank you.”
“My beautiful friend Valerie from Del Rio Mexico, my dearest friend Alex and my gorgeous friendDakota Rainas well as my sweetheartTatiana,” Del Rey continued. “These are my friends this is my life. We are all a beautiful mix of everything- some more than others which is visible and celebrated in everything I do.”
The"Let Me Love You Like a Woman"songstress (who previously faced criticism back in May, when some felt she wassingling out nonwhite female performers) went on to say she has “always been extremely inclusive without even trying to” over the 11 years she has been working in music.
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Lana Del Rey’s Instagram comment.
“I think the ironic thing about her inclusivity is that she tries so hard to SHOW it but her vocabulary just says that she doesn’t actually know what she’s talking about only that shedoesn’t want to be a part of the conversation,” a third alleged.
A rep for Del Rey did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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The Grammy nominee (born Elizabeth Grant) previously clapped back about what she said people were misconstruing as “a WOC issue” when name-checking top female artists likeBeyoncé,Nicki Minaj,Ariana GrandeandCardi B, having initially stated that “there has to be kind of a place in feminism for women who look and act like me.”
“And this is the problem with society today, not everything is about whatever you want it to be,” Del Rey continued. “It’s exactly the point of my post — there are certain women that culture doesn’t want to have a voice it may not have to do with race I don’t know what it has to do with.”
Added the singer, “I don’t care anymore but don’t ever ever ever ever bro — call me racist because that is bulls—.”
source: people.com
