Ethel Cain issues public apology for 8-year-old racist posts, calls them ‘shameful' ahead of new album launch

Time of India

3 days ago

American singer-songwriter
Ethel Cain
has issued a public apology after old social media posts containing racist and offensive content resurfaced online. The posts, made when she was 19, included the use of racial slurs, offensive jokes about rape and body image, and controversial images. The posts began circulating on Reddit and X, just weeks ahead of the release of her second album, Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You, slated for August.
Cain, whose real name is Hayden Anhedönia, shared a lengthy statement on
Instagram
on July 9, acknowledging her past remarks and expressing remorse.
'I was 19 and I was entirely aware of what I was saying and that was why I said it,'
Cain
wrote. 'All I can say is that I am truly sorry from the bottom of my heart.'
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Cain admitted the accounts and posts in question were hers. She described her younger self as deliberately provocative, seeking attention through inflammatory language. In the statement, she said she no longer stands by those views and now looks back on that time "shamefully."
She rejected excuses for her behavior, saying: 'At the end of the day, I am white… I can take accountability for my actions, but there's no way for me to fully understand the way it feels to be on the receiving end of them.'
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Cain said that she intends to use her platform for progress and atonement through her actions going forward.
Claims of Harassment and Hacking
While apologizing, Cain also pushed back against the manner in which the posts were unearthed. She alleged that the resurfacing was part of a deliberate 'smear campaign' involving hacking, harassment, and doxxing.
'These are screenshots obtained through extensive digging, hacking, and cooperative effort amongst a group of individuals,' she wrote. 'This information was hoarded until the perfect moment arose to unleash it.'
She claimed personal accounts were compromised, her family was targeted, and private childhood photos were circulated. Her team is reportedly pursuing legal action.
Responds to Specific Allegations
Cain also addressed more serious claims, including accusations related to artwork some deemed inappropriate and a photo that critics alleged suggested animal abuse. She denied all such accusations, explaining them in context:
She said a homemade shirt with 'Legalize Incest' was a provocative joke during a time she sought shock value online.
Cain explained that a character in her art, allegedly depicted in sexualized ways, represented her trauma after a sexual assault. The character was of legal age, mirroring Cain's own.
Describing the image as a moment at a party, she called the allegation 'absurd.'
She admitted to mistakenly using a poster linked to a real child's case as part of an album promo. She apologized, calling it careless but unintentional.
Pushes Back Against 'Fetishization' Claims
Cain also responded to accusations that her work 'fetishizes' the female experience and trauma. As a transgender woman, she defended her right to explore themes of abuse and fear in her art.
'Preacher's Daughter is a deeply personal story to me, born from my traumas and deepest fears,' she said. 'If it reads as a fetish to you, then that is your problem and not mine.'
Ethel Cain rose to fame with her 2022 debut Preacher's Daughter, which was widely praised for its raw storytelling and haunting sound.
As one of the most prominent transgender artists in pop and alternative music today, Cain's public reckoning comes at a sensitive moment amid political polarization and increased scrutiny of public figures' digital histories.