Kim Gordon Bitches About Lana Del Rey, Suggests She Commit Suicide
So, here’s the thing with Kim Gordon’s memoir (which, ha, we haven’t read, so it’s not like we really have any right to say that much about it or judge it that harshly, but, well, here we go): It seems to be replete with airings of grievances—and small, pathetic ones at that. In the last few weeks, as bits and pieces of the book have been leaked, readers have been treated to such bon mots as “No one ever questions the disorder behind [Courtney Love’s] tarantula LA glamour–sociopathy, narcissism–because it’s good rock and roll, good entertainment! I have a low tolerance for manipulative, egomaniacal behaviour, and usually have to remind myself that the person might be mentally ill.” Or this about Billy Corgan: “I thought, Ewwww, at even the mention of Billy Corgan, whom nobody liked because he was such a crybaby, and Smashing Pumpkins took themselves way too seriously and were in no way punk rock.” Which, wow, Kim! Way to pick the softest targets ever. How daring?
But, you know, ultimately, if Kim Gordon wants to call Billy Corgan “in no way punk rock,” who even cares? Not me. Not even a little bit. But Kim just couldn’t leave well enough alone and stick with shit-talking her ex-husband and other 90s rock stars. No, Kim had to go after Lana Del Rey for not being a feminist. And so we don’t really feel like holding our tongues any longer, not when Kim absurdly accuses Lana “of not even knowing what feminism is,” and then suggests that Lana kill herself. Kim! What the fuck.
In Kim’s memoir, she has this to say about Lana:
“Today we have someone like Lana Del Rey, who doesn’t even know what feminism is, who believes women can do whatever they want, which, in her world, tilts toward self-destruction, whether it’s sleeping with gross old men or getting gang raped by bikers. Equal pay and equal rights would be nice. Naturally, it’s just a persona. If she really truly believes it’s beautiful when young musicians go out on a hot flame of drugs and depression, why doesn’t she just off herself?”
Which, you know, first of all, attacking a woman for her feminist credentials is just about the least feminist thing one can do. And besides being unfeminist, it’s just blatantly petty. What is it about the idea that “women can do whatever they want” that’s unfeminist exactly? Is it because Kim doesn’t like that Lana might be “sleeping with gross old men” or is it that she is “getting gang raped by bikers”? Neither of which action, obviously, is in any way a viable reason to criticize someone’s feminist credentials. (Not that “feminist credentials” are even a real thing that anyone should ever be criticized for anyway, just the words “feminist credentials” are enough to make me nauseous.)
Of course, there is literally no way that Kim doesn’t know that she’s just spouting venom for reasons that make no real sense (oh, Lana’s actions “tilt toward self-destruction?” And that’s upsetting or overly transgressive to you because, why, Kim?); and I would venture to guess that Kim had some parasitic editor salivating over the frequency with which she attacked other celebrities in her memoir, and encouraged Kim to lash out at more and more targets because, book sales. But still, the flippancy with which Kim dismisses Lana and suggests she commit suicide, simply because Lana has sung about and to a certain extent embodied the death drive, is frankly disturbing. (As is Kim’s glee at retweeting people praising her and her anti-Lana screed… I mean, #JeSuisKim? Ok.) Countless other performers and artists have done the exact same thing in a host of different ways, so why is Lana singled out? Oh, to get extra press because nobody’s really interested in stories about Billy Corgan anymore? Ok, cool. I mean, Thurston’s obviously still a dick and all, but that sure as hell doesn’t mean Kim’s not.
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