Lana Del Rey defends new album cover against ‘people of colour’ criticism: ‘I’m literally changing the world’

‘My best friends are rappers, my boyfriends have been rappers,’ wrote singer-songwriter

Lana Del Rey has defended the cover art of her new album, while claiming that she is “changing the world” with her music.

On Sunday (10 January), Del Rey unveiled on her Instagram the cover art and track listing for her new album, Chemtrails Over the Country Club. The artwork depicts a group of women, including Del Rey, sitting around what appears to be a table in a diner.

In a comment under the announcement, Del Rey quickly launched a defence of the cover and the women depicted in it. It is unclear what prompted the defence, though Del Rey implied that she had received criticism about a perceived absence of women of colour in the image.

“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. And damn!” Del Rey wrote.

She continued: “As it happens when it comes to my amazing friends and this cover yes there are people of colour on this record’s picture and that’s all I’ll say about that but thank you.”

Del Rey then named three women on the cover who are apparently women of colour, describing the group as “a beautiful mix of everything.”

She added: “In 11 years working I have always been extremely inclusive without even trying to. 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 [sic], I’m literally changing the world by putting my life and thoughts and love out there on the table 24 seven. Respect it.”

Lana Del Rey defends her album cover in an Instagram comment (Instagram)

Chemtrails Over the Country Club is Del Rey’s follow-up to her critically acclaimed 2019 album Norman F***ing Rockwell. The new album does not yet have a release date.

In May 2020, Del Rey accused her critics of attempting to start a “race war”, following a backlash to her comments on a number of female pop stars, many of whom were women of colour.

She previously claimed in a social media post that she had been “crucified” by critics and accused of “glamourising abuse” in the lyrics of her music. She then argued that many female stars, including Ariana Grande, Cardi B, Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé, “have had number ones with songs about being sexy, wearing no clothes, f***ing, cheating”, presumably without similar levels of criticism.

Chemtrails Over the Country Club’s title track will be released today (11 January).