If anyone hoped that Lana Del Rey would remain within the boundaries of melancholic pop and the remnants of "Summertime Sadness" success, they should think again. The American singer, who long ago transformed from a sad musician into a political activist, published an Instagram response that amounts to a storm in a teacup in an attempt to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Del Rey expressed clear support for Palestinians, writing, "Of course we pray for Palestine every day," and added, "I wish for peace between all nations and am constantly up on all of the news between the Israel Palestine conflict." She acknowledged that "I was very hopeful when we were getting close to a peace treaty."
Alongside her words of hope, Del Rey did not hesitate to use more blunt language, stating, "It's always difficult to watch any innocent victims killed by crimes of war," and added that "It's heartbreaking and unfathomable to think there hasn't been a way to find some resolution." She also addressed the complexity of expressing positions on sensitive issues, writing, "There is never a good way of wording things that will make all people happy but that is my personal truth. Politically I do keep up and have been very much hoping for cease fire. This is a long ongoing conflict and one I've studied hard to understand."
This is not the first time Del Rey has inserted herself into the political swamp. In 2018, she canceled her planned performance at the Meteora Festival in the Judean Desert after pressure from the BDS boycott movement, declaring she could not coordinate a performance in both Israel and Palestinian territories, writing on Twitter, "It's important for me to perform in both Palestine and Israel, and to respect all my fans."
Del Rey tried to calm the storm earlier when she claimed that "a performance in Tel Aviv is not a political statement," adding that "singing in California doesn't mean I support the American government." Nevertheless, in the end, she folded. Just like Katy Perry before her and Lorde after her, Del Rey joined the list of artists who prefer to maintain world peace (or at least their international careers) rather than enter a geopolitical minefield.
While her fans in Israel remained confused, and primarily without a performance, Del Rey declares her positions are "identified with liberal views regarding democracy and oppression," but on the other hand, she tries to be "neutral" and pains for "both sides" in the conflict.
