The indie music world exploded overnight. Social media erupted in chaos. Lana Del Rey dropped a bombshell song snippet targeting fellow alt-pop artist Ethel Cain, followed by an Instagram block that sent shockwaves through their fanbase. The 40-year-old “West Coast” icon just declared war on the 27-year-old rising star in the most unexpected celebrity feud of 2025.
The drama ignited on August 14 when Lana previewed track thirteen from her upcoming tenth album, produced by Jack Antonoff. The opening lyrics stopped fans dead in their tracks. “Ethel Cain hated my Instagram post, think it’s cute reenacting my Chicago post,” Lana sang with unmistakable venom. The song, rumored to be titled “All About Ethel,” didn’t just throw subtle shade. It launched a full-scale musical attack.
When Diss Tracks Turn Into Instagram Blocks: The Shocking Music Industry Drama Between Lana Del Rey And Ethel Cain That Nobody Saw Coming
Those “Chicago pose” references cut deep. Back in 2022, Lana posed with musician Jack Donoghue outside Chicago’s Cook County Jail. Fans quickly connected the dots when similar photos surfaced of Jack with Ethel Cain. The implication was clear. Lana accused Ethel of copying her poses and inserting herself into her personal relationships. The track didn’t stop there, with Lana singing about “the most famous girl at the Waffle House.” A direct reference to a 2022 New York Times profile about Ethel.
“Ethel Cain hated my Instagram post, think it's cute re-enacting my Chicago pose” – Lana Del Rey in new song “All About Ethel” pic.twitter.com/BqjS5q9K1C
— LanaBoards (@LanaBoards) August 14, 2025
Hours after the snippet dropped, Ethel confirmed the nuclear fallout with a devastating Instagram Story: “Update: Lana Del Rey has blocked Ethel Cain on Instagram”. The simple announcement sent both fanbases into overdrive. The block wasn’t just a petty social media drama. It represented the complete breakdown of any professional relationship between two of indie music’s biggest names.
Lana escalated the situation with explosive accusations that revealed the feud’s dark history. She claimed Ethel had been tormenting her for years behind the scenes. In Instagram comments, Lana alleged that Ethel created “disturbing and graphic side-by-side images” comparing her to “unflattering creatures and cartoon characters” while making “constant comments about my weight”. She also accused Ethel of spreading rumors about her through mutual friends and inappropriately involving herself in Lana’s personal life.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Ethel, who recently weathered her own controversy. In July 2024, offensive posts from her teenage years resurfaced online, forcing her to issue a lengthy public apology. The posts included racist language and provocative imagery that she attributed to dealing with personal trauma through an intentionally controversial online persona. Now facing accusations from one of music’s biggest stars, Ethel finds herself at the center of another damaging public relations nightmare that could derail her rapidly rising career.
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