Lana Del Rey clarifies comments about Trump, says they were taken "out of context"

Del Rey spoke to Annie Mac on BBCR1 on Monday (11 January) following the release of her new album title-track "Chemtrails Over The Country Club". During the interview, Del Rey answered questions about politics and the outgoing US president Donald Trump. She suggested that he didn't realise he was inciting last week's US Capitol riot, and said Trump's presidency "needed to happen" to bring US "narcissism" to the surface.

Complex and Rolling Stone reported on her comments, resulting in Del Rey taking to Twitter to clarify her comments. She wrote yesterday (12 January), "Just to take a moment to say that what I was describing w the bbc was that Trump is so significantly impaired that he may not know what he was doing due to his significant lack of empathy and the wider ranging problem is the issue of sociopathy and narcissism in America."

Just to take a moment to say that what I was describing w the bbc was that Trump is so significantly impaired that he may not know what he was doing due to his significant lack of empathy and the wider ranging problem is the issue of sociopathy and narcissism in America.

— Lana Del Rey (@LanaDelRey) January 12, 2021

"I’ll say it again I don’t appreciate the larger magazines taking my well-intentioned and believe it or not liberal comments out of context," Del Rey continued. "It’s actually what I sing about quite often. It’s what I’ve been condemned for saying. You can listen to the entire interview."

I’ll say it again I don’t appreciate the larger magazines taking my well-intentioned and believe it or not liberal comments out of context. It’s actually what I sing about quite often. It’s what I’ve been condemned for saying. You can listen to the entire interview.

— Lana Del Rey (@LanaDelRey) January 12, 2021

She added, "I also want to say that I don’t appreciate Complex Magazine inferring that I thought it was right to storm the capital. After my long term relationship with them and exclusive interviews over the last 11 years I think it’s pathetic if Rolling Stone chimes in - same goes for them."

I also want to say that I don’t appreciate complex magazine inferring that I thought it was right to storm the capital. After my long term relationship with them and exclusive interviews over the last 11 years I think it’s pathetic
if Rolling Stone chimes in-same goes for them

— Lana Del Rey (@LanaDelRey) January 12, 2021

Del Rey also shared a video of her defending her comments via Instagram. She said in the clip, "I have something to say and I don't just show up giggling and talking about my hair and my makeup. I was asked directly political questions for over 40 minutes by BBC Radio 1, and I answered them."

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A post shared by Lana Del Rey (@lanadelrey)

Her video arrived just a couple of days after Del Rey defended the artwork for her new album, which shows a group of women, including Del Rey, sitting around a table. She wrote, "These are my friends this is my life. We are all a beautiful mix of everything - some more than others which is visible and celebrated in everything I do. 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, I’m literally changing the world by putting my life and thoughts and love out there on the table 24 seven. Respect it."