Here’s how not to defend a very poorly executed “inclusive” photoshoot:you don’t compare what you didn’t do, to what happened at the U.S. Capitol last week and say, at least I didn’t do that. Yet, that’s exactly what Lana Del Rey did when she rightfully received criticism on her latest album cover reveal.
The singer unveiled the album cover on Sunday night (Jan 10) via an Instagram post. “There’s always turmoil and upheaval and in the midst of it–there’s always beautiful music too,” she captioned the post. “Introducing my new album chemtrails over the country club.”
However, fans were quick to point out the optics didn’t look very inclusive. Del Rey, in an attempt to squash the commentary, replied within the comment section.
“These are my best friends,” she wrote. “As it happens when it comes to my amazing friends and this cover yes there are people of color on this records (sic) picture and that’s all I’ll say about that but thank you.”
But that’s not all. Because white women do the absolute most to wash their hands of the whiteness they have historically held up for centuries, Del Rey had to add, “My best friends are rappers my boyfriends have been rappers. My dearest friends have been from all over the place, so before you make comments again about a WOC/POC issue… , I’m not the one storming the capital, I’m literally changing the world by putting my life and thoughts and love out there on the table 24 seven. Respect it.”
She equates being inclusive by suggesting that “my boyfriends have been rappers,” and then suggests that because she wasn’t inciting terror, she can’t be racist, which is peak white feminism. She may have Latinx friends, but using their identity to defend her misshapen idea of what inclusivity means, is problematic in and of itself.
But like most celebrities, all the discussion and information being shared, is just falling on deaf ears. Lana, this ain’t it.