Two artists faced significant backlash on Twitter: Lana Del Rey and Dole Jacquet. Let’s delve into their stories, starting with Lana Del Rey. Known for her emo pop style, Lana took to Instagram for a rant that stirred controversy. In her post, she called out several female artists, including Dolgikh, Ariana Grande, Camila Cabello, Cardi B, Kehlani, Nicki Minaj, and Beyoncé, questioning the cultural acceptance of their songs about sexuality and relationships compared to her desire to express themes of love and personal empowerment without facing criticism. Lana lamented the lack of space for women like her within feminism and expressed frustration at being scrutinized for her lyrical content.
Many interpreted Lana’s remarks as shading Beyoncé, Nicki, Ariana, and others, while others noted the absence of mention for her white peers like Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, and Lady Gaga. This omission, combined with the racial makeup of the artists Lana singled out, sparked further criticism. The discourse highlighted the complexities of gender, race, and artistic expression within the music industry.
It seems to me that Lana’s recent remarks about other female artists stem from her frustration with their success on the Billboard charts. She seemed particularly irked by seeing Dolgikh, Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé, and Megan Thee Stallion dominating the charts, as well as Kailani’s latest album debuting at number two. Moreover, Ariana Grande’s continued success seemed to bother her. Lana’s comments appeared to belittle these artists’ achievements, suggesting they only achieve number one hits by singing about provocative topics. This criticism seems unwarranted, as these artists cover a wide range of themes in their music beyond sexuality.
It’s worth noting that Lana isn’t alone in facing criticism for her lyrics. Beyoncé, for instance, has faced substantial backlash, particularly for songs like “Formation” and content from her “Lemonade” album. Nicki Minaj, Doja Cat, Cardi B, Kailani, and Ariana Grande have also faced scrutiny for various aspects of their music, from explicit lyrics to personal relationships.
Lana’s complaints may not resonate with everyone, especially considering the significant support and privileges she’s received in her career compared to some of the artists she mentioned. It appears she’s disregarding her own advantages and simply feeling envious of other women’s success on the charts. In essence, her remarks come off as sour grapes.
So, Doja Cat actually left a comment on Lana Del Rey’s post, saying, “Gang sunk that dunker.” Now, the exact meaning of that is a bit unclear, but it seemed like she was encouraging her followers to criticize Lana. I’m not entirely sure. If anyone knows, please share in the comments below. But after making this comment, Doja Cat became the subject of criticism on Twitter herself. It came to light that she frequented a chatroom called TinyChat, where some allege she engaged with alt-right groups. Now, I can’t confirm the accuracy of these claims, but that’s what’s being said. There’s a circulating video showing Doja Cat interacting with these individuals, being provocative and making shocking remarks. If you’re familiar with Doja Cat, you know she has a quirky sense of humor and often trolls people for reactions. However, her behavior in these chatrooms, as seen in the video, is uncomfortable to watch. She comes across as overly eager and degrading herself in the process.
[Video transcript] “Would you keep the tube in to my house with a funnel at the end and pour, yes, pour. Pull your shirt up, lady, yes, my lady. Edition of the cemetery flexes, my new lady of the night. Doja, I’m sorry.”
It’s quite unsettling to witness, and while I knew Doja Cat was unconventional, this takes it to another level. As she gains more fame, she needs to be mindful of her actions. She can’t simply go into chatrooms and say anything for shock value, as it reflects poorly on her image and suggests deeper insecurities. Engaging in such behavior, like stripping off her clothes and using racial slurs in front of a predominantly white audience, is concerning and frankly embarrassing.
Regrettably, this wasn’t the most disturbing revelation about her. Doja Cat once released a song on SoundCloud titled “Ns Ain’t Sht.” This term is utilized by alt-right groups to ridicule black individuals, and it has been used to belittle victims of police brutality. So, the fact that Doja chose this term as a song title is deeply concerning and hints at some self-deprecating tendencies within her. For context, Doja is of mixed race, with a black and white heritage. However, she appears to identify more strongly with her white side, which isn’t unusual given her upbringing in a predominantly white environment, raised by her white mother after her father’s abandonment during her childhood. There’s nothing inherently wrong with identifying with one’s white heritage, but it becomes problematic when she feels comfortable using racial slurs and derogatory language like “didn’t do nothing” around white individuals. Criticism towards Doja escalated on Twitter, with users expressing their dismay. Some tweets I came across include:
“This is the new face of racism. A racism so subtle, it’s almost palatable. That’s racism I can appreciate. Let me sprinkle some truth. Listen up, cease and desist. I’m about to drop some knowledge. You’re cozying up to the Ku Klux Klan because of their ‘intellect’? White supremacy at its finest. White power, huh? Spare me. Did nobody inform you this was a whites-only affair? Get this individual out of here. Just so you know, I’m white. Sure, she may not believe me, but I know it deep down. It’s coursing through my veins. It’s in my DNA. Can’t fool me. Not on my watch. CEO of racism just sent me a friend request. What’s going on? What’s happening?”
“I’ve come across some tweets discussing Doja and her recent behavior, and I have to admit, as a fan of her music, it’s really troubling and disheartening. While I’ve always appreciated her artistry, I can’t continue to support her in light of these revelations. It’s not about dismissing her entirely; rather, I believe her actions raise serious concerns that she needs to address, perhaps through therapy, as they seem to stem from deeper issues.
Now, does this mean Doja Cat is facing total cancellation? I doubt it. She undeniably has a dedicated fanbase who will stand by her despite this. Moreover, she’s not the first nor the last public figure to stumble in this way, often receiving leniency. Nonetheless, I suspect her support among the Black community may wane.
It’s crucial for her to acknowledge the situation publicly and take responsibility for her actions. She has a lot of ground to cover in rebuilding trust. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this matter. Please engage with this video by liking, commenting, and subscribing, and feel free to share it if you find it relevant. Thank you for tuning in, and I look forward to our next discussion. Goodbye.”