Lana Del Rey and Ethel Cain feud explained: Are indie music girls fighting over a boy? Diss track and Instagram block fuel drama

Time of India

4 hours ago

While diss tracks are usually a rapper's playground, Lana Del Rey seems to be taking a page out of that playbook — only her target isn't a hip-hop heavyweight but fellow indie darling Ethel Cain. From sly shade to the ultimate social media power move (yes, she actually hit the block button), Lana's moves have left fans both shocked and wildly curious. Why is she beefing with Cain in the first place? And how did this niche indie spat become one of the most unexpectedly entertaining pop culture feuds of the week? Keep scrolling, because the tea here is oddly specific and surprisingly messy.
Ethel Cain and Lana Del Rey's 2025 feud explained: From past tensions to recent drama
The sudden feud between Ethel Cain and Lana Del Rey has set social media ablaze, igniting one of the rare but fiery clashes in the indie scene, which is known for keeping it peaceful. What started as subtle tension has now spiralled into a full-blown online standoff, complete with direct shade and even an Instagram block. Below, we break down everything you need to know—from the history between Cain and Lana to the turning point that brought their differences into the spotlight and why this unexpected clash has been reignited in 2025.
Lana Del Rey shades Ethel Cain with her new song
Lana Del Rey caught everyone off guard with her recent Instagram post that quickly set the internet on fire. She uploaded a short snippet of Track 13 from her upcoming album—previously known as The Right Person Will Stay but still untitled for now—and it didn't take long for fans to start dissecting every word. The opening lyrics were enough to send social media into speculation, with many convinced she was taking aim at Ethel Cain. She also tagged Jack Antonoff as her collaborator on the track, and the snippet's lyrics have pretty much left everyone stunned. The opening line goes, 'Ethel Cain hated my Instagram post / Thinks it's cute reenacting my Chicago pose' — a direct callout that had fans instantly pausing and replaying.
Are the girls fighting over a boy?
Fans are convinced the lyric is a nod to the fact that both Ethel Cain and Lana Del Rey have eerily similar photos with Jack Donoghue — Lana's ex-boyfriend and one-half of the underground music duo Salem. While the imagery has fuelled plenty of side-eye and speculation, there's no actual proof that Cain and Donoghue were ever officially a couple.
Lyrics leave little to the imagination
In another part of the track—which some Twitter users claim is titled All About Ethel (though that's still unconfirmed)—Lana sings, 'The most famous girl at the Waffle House / I don't regret it / The most famous girl at the Waffle House.' Fans immediately connected the line to Ethel Cain, who was profiled by The New York Times in an article headlined 'The Most Famous Girl at the Waffle House.' The reference hits even harder considering Lana herself pulled a quirky stunt in 2023 by actually working a shift at a Waffle House.
Ethel Cain addressed the Lana Del Rey beef on her story
What some thought was just a cheeky lyrical jab quickly escalated when Ethel Cain took to her Instagram story, revealing that Lana Del Rey had blocked her.
But the drama didn't stop there. Lana later weighed in herself, responding to news outlets covering the feud. In a comment, she wrote, 'I didn't know who Ethel was until a few years ago — when someone brought to my attention the disturbing and graphic side-by-side images she would often put up of me next to unflattering creatures and cartoon characters, making constant comments about my weight. I was confused at what she was getting at. Then when I heard what she was saying behind closed doors from mutual friends and started inserting herself into my personal life, I was definitely disturbed.'
Ethel Cain is having a sad girl summer
In July 2025, old social media posts from Ethel Cain's late teens resurfaced, showing her using racist language, making offensive jokes, and wearing provocative clothing, sparking widespread backlash. The controversy deepened with criticism over past album imagery resembling a real missing child poster. On July 9, Cain issued a 2,000-word statement admitting the posts were hers, apologising 'from the bottom of my heart,' and explaining they came from a time when she was intentionally provocative online while dealing with personal trauma. She denied serious allegations like creating child pornography or promoting abuse and claimed the resurfacing was part of a coordinated, transphobic smear campaign that included hacking and doxxing.
Coming back to her Lana feud, it was a rare, direct statement from the Margaret singer, and one that made it clear this wasn't just about a couple of shady lines in a song. Will Cain respond with another diss track? We'll have to wait, but this is definitely shaping up to be one of the most famous feuds in the indie music scene in recent times.