A long-simmering tension between Lana Del Rey and alt-pop newcomer Ethel Cain has boiled over into one of the music world’s most viral feuds, sparked by lyrics previewed at a recent London showcase.
During an intimate August 13 event, Del Rey treated fans to a snippet of an unreleased track from her upcoming tenth studio album. Opening with the lines “Ethel Cain hated my Instagram post ; Thinks it’s cute reenacting my Chicago pose,” the verse immediately set off alarms among followers of both artists.
Audiences drew connections to two eerily similar photographs: Del Rey’s 2022 snapshot with musician Jack Donoghue in front of Chicago’s Cook County Jail, and a later image of Cain posing with Donoghue in the same spot. A follow-up lyric “The most famous girl at the Waffle House; I don’t regret it” seemed to reference Cain’s celebrated profile and Del Rey’s own viral stint working at a Waffle House last year.
Within hours, Cain confirmed that Del Rey had blocked her on Instagram, fueling speculation that the two were embroiled in more than friendly competition. Del Rey then appeared under a fan post to accuse Cain of “body-shaming” tactics and circulating side-by-side images to mock her appearance.
The drama escalated further when Cain’s sister, Delilah, took to social media to mock Del Rey’s recent hologram performances on tour, joking that the diva might need her digital double to deliver the “diss track.” That post was later deleted, but not before fans captured screenshots that quickly spread online.
At press time, neither camp has offered a formal statement. Cain has focused on promoting her new album Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You, while Del Rey continues rehearsals for her fall headline tour. As both artists gear up for major releases and festival appearances, industry watchers predict that this feud could shape headlines and set the tone for pop’s next chapter.
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