The pop-culture sphere may be abuzz with revelations from Taylor Swift’s first podcast appearance, but for fans of southern gothic Americana folk-pop, trouble is brewing. Lana Del Rey appears to have dropped her first-ever diss track, and it seems to be directed at Ethel Cain (née Hayden Anhedönia). So what are these two prairie-dress aficionadas fighting about? Let’s unpack.
“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
Another line of “Track 13” that got people speculating: In her chorus, Del Rey sings, “The most famous girl in the Waffle House / I don’t regret it.” That part might be a reference to a 2022 New York Times profile of Anhedönia, which had the headline “The Most Famous Girl at the Waffle House.” Perhaps this sheds some light on that time she was spotted working at a Waffle House in Florence, Alabama — the same state Anhedönia was living in when she was profiled.
Since sharing it, Del Rey also appears to have commented on a Pop Base Instagram post about the news. In the since-deleted comment, she apparently 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.” It’s unclear what posts she might be referring to.
Lana Del Rey elaborates on her lyrics about Ethel Cain, stating that the singer used to body-shame her:
“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… pic.twitter.com/I6uV9UO6qU
— Pop Base (@PopBase) August 14, 2025
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How has Anhedönia responded?
The only word from Anhedönia so far is an Instagram Story she posted on Wednesday night, in which she wrote, “update: lana del rey has blocked ethel cain on instagram” in white text on a black background.
Lana Del Rey has blocked Ethel Cain on Instagram. pic.twitter.com/XHuCb06QYR
— Pop Base (@PopBase) August 14, 2025
Anhedönia’s sister, a musician who goes by Delilah Dolly, appears to have elaborated. In what seems to be a since-expired Instagram Story, she posted a mirror selfie where she tagged Del Rey and apparently wrote, “i can’t wait to watch your hologram perform this ‘diss track’ while you hit your vape backstage diva,” adding, “what inspired you to suddenly make a country album??”
On Thursday, an Instagram Story featuring a similar mirror selfie and the caption “KEEP CRYINGGGGGGG” was still on her Stories.
Have these two had beef before?
Not openly. In a 2022 interview with i-D, Anhedönia was asked about a tweet in which she’d criticized a writer who’d compared her to Del Rey in a review. “I love Lana and I love her music, but there’s a hundred other things at play here. If that’s an entryway for a review, that’s fine. But sometimes people arrive at Lana Del Rey and stop at Lana Del Rey,” she told the outlet. “I called it lazy writing because it’s lazy for me and her. I think it’s kind of a detriment to the expansive work of two female artists to just reduce them to being similar to each other.”
Anhedönia’s newest album (and the final one she’ll release as Ethel Cain) came out last week, while Del Rey’s is expected sometime this year. Perhaps they, too, can work it out on the remix?
The Cut has reached out to Anhedönia and Del Rey for comment and will update if we hear back.
