Lana Del Rey, Ethel Cain ‘Diss Track’: When Did Tension Between Artists Start? Here’s A Timeline Of Their ‘Feud’

A once one-sided admiration has unravelled into a very public falling out between Lana Del Rey and Ethel Cain, sparking online uproar and drawing attention to years of unspoken tension.

On 13 August 2025, Lana Del Rey shared a video on Instagram, seated in a car and playing an unreleased track with a direct reference to Ethel Cain. Within hours, the post became the centre of speculation, not just for the lyrics, but for the revelations that followed in the comment section. But just what do we know about the beef between Lana del Rey and Ethel Cain?

Cain’s Early Admiration: From Fan to Foe

Ethel Cain, real name Hayden Silas Anhedönia, began her music journey in the mid-2010s, frequently posting covers and demos online. By 2015, she had already named Lana Del Rey as one of her favourite artists on her DeviantArt profile. In 2017, she posted a cover of ‘Born to Die’, further cementing her admiration.

As Cain’s own career developed, so did comparisons to Lana. These comparisons weren’t always welcomed. By 2022, Cain had grown increasingly vocal about her frustration, calling such reviews ‘lazy’ in a since-deleted tweet, and arguing that drawing parallels between her and Lana diminished both of their work.

Jack Donoghue: A Shared Connection Sparks Speculation

In 2022, Lana Del Rey went public with her relationship with Jack Donoghue of the group Salem, sharing a photo outside Cook County Jail which was later deleted. Around the same period, Ethel Cain — previously close to Donoghue — posted a similar image, captioning it ‘ok wait my turn’. That post was also later deleted.

Fans immediately drew links between the two images. Rumours swirled about Cain’s connection to Donoghue, suggesting a possible overlap or rivalry. Neither artist confirmed the nature of Cain’s relationship with Donoghue, but the online perception of competition was already cemented.

‘The Most Famous Girl at the Waffle House’: Lyrics or Accusation?

In May 2022, The New York Times described Ethel Cain as ‘the most famous girl at the Waffle House‘ in a headline. On 13 August 2025, Lana Del Rey echoed the phrase in a lyric posted to Instagram, alongside another reference: ‘Ethel Cain hated my Instagram post / Think it’s cute reenacting my Chicago pose’.

The ‘Chicago pose’ line appears to reference both artists’ photos with Jack Donoghue. The track’s snippet triggered debate, but Lana quickly clarified her intent under a Pop Base post, alleging Cain had body-shamed her and mocked her weight.

In the same comment, Lana added that Cain had inserted herself into her personal life and that mutual friends had relayed comments made behind her back — all of which she found ‘disturbing’.

Cain Responds: Blocked and Unbothered?

Shortly after Lana’s comment circulated, Ethel Cain posted a brief update to her Instagram Stories: ‘Update: lana del rey has blocked ethel cain on instagram’. It was the only public remark she made on the matter.

Body Shaming and ‘Bullying’ Allegations

Lana del Rey has accused Cain of body-shaming her, referring to past behaviour where Cain allegedly shared or created side-by-side images comparing Lana to unflattering cartoon characters. In a comment posted under a Pop Base Instagram post on 14 August 2025, Lana 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.’

Lana further stated that these actions, coupled with alleged private remarks made by Cain and shared through mutual acquaintances, led her to feel ‘disturbed’.

What’s Next for the Feud — and the Music?

With both artists continuing to release new work, public attention has shifted from speculation to scrutiny. Fans are analysing lyrics and past posts, dissecting interviews, and drawing timelines of the tension.

Though neither artist has given a full public statement or interview addressing the fallout, the combination of song lyrics, social media posts, and deleted content forms a timeline that fans and critics alike are closely following.