Lorde calls police brutality "racist, sickening, and unsurprising" in new email to fans

Over the past week, protests have been taking place across the US, and around the world to take a stand against racism following the death of George Floyd last week, who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on Floyd's neck while being detained.

Lorde only emailed her fans with an update on music and her feelings about the coronavirus pandemic last month, so fans were surprised to find the New Zealand singer/songwriter had sent a second email, this time responding to the protests.

She opens her email by writing, "Hello again, I know what you're thinking - "Two notes in two weeks? Who is she?!" You probably weren’t expecting to hear from me for another few months, but I can’t ask for your attention one week and go silent on something like this the next. So here goes."

Lorde continues, "I’ve been following this week’s events in the States from New Zealand. I also attended the peaceful protest in Auckland today to support the Black Lives Matter movement. One of the things I find most frustrating about social media is performative activism, predominantly by white celebrities (like me). It’s hard to strike a balance between self-serving social media displays and true action. But part of being an ally is knowing when to speak and when to listen, and I know that white silence right now is more damaging than someone’s wack protest selfie."

"So let me be clear," Lorde adds. "This ongoing systemic brutality by police is racist, it’s sickening, and it’s unsurprising."

She goes on to state that because her music is "directly inspired by and in conversation with hip hop, it's my responsibility to let you know that I'm here."

Lorde wraps up her email by writing, "To my black and brown listeners - I’m so sorry this is your reality, that you haven’t had a choice but to be defined by this, to give it your energy. I'm aware of that tax on you. I hope white people you know are doing what they can to ease your load. And I really, really hope systems will change to better protect you."

.@Lorde speaks about the #BlackLivesMatter movement & protests in email to fans:

“Money helps concretely, paying things like bail funds...so I do that...To my black and brown listeners — I’m so sorry this is your reality, that you haven’t had a choice but to be defined by this.” pic.twitter.com/RLy5rzXAKN

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) June 1, 2020