Issues such as smoking cigarettes, vaping, pedophilia, or hebephilia (attraction to pubescent adolescents ranging from ages 11-14) are being romanticized by some celebrities, causing teenagers to follow in their lead and damage their health and mindset. An example of such a celebrity is Lana Del Rey, a popular American singer and songwriter.
Teenagers have created a vintage “grunge aesthetic” with Lana Del Rey as the inspiration, according to social media posts by people. Many photos of her include a cigarette in her hands, and she also often holds a vape in some performances, according to “Lana Del Rey Asks Fans ‘Can You Find My Vape on Stage?’ During Brazil Music Festival Performance”.
At a concert she held in Rio De Janeiro, she lost her vape on stage and asked the audience to look for it, according to People.com. This act is significant because it may normalize vaping to the many teenagers in her fanbase..
Del Rey is known for many of her songs, but two popular songs have been looked over and seem to have lines of glorification of pedophilia.
“Lolita” is a famous novel by Russian-American novelist Vladimir Nabakov, and Del Rey took a liking to this book and used it as an inspiration for her songs.
The book is about a European man who has a sexual obsession with young girls. Dolores, whose nickname is Lolita, is a twelve-year-old girl who is physically and mentally abused by the man.
Del Rey has written many songs revolving around Nabakov’s novel, and even includes quotes in her music. Lyrics speaking about her interest in older men are mentioned as well, which glorifies problematic issues of teenagers seducing older men, which should not be occurring for young girls in this generation.
Lana’s album “Born to Die” has multiple references to “Lolita.” Songs such as “Off to the Races,” “Carmen,” “This is What Makes Us Girls,” “Cola” and “Gods and Monsters” mention pedophilic and hebephilic references in her lyrics.
“Runnin’ from the cops in our black bikini tops / screamin’ ‘Get us while we’re hot, get us while we’re hot,’” Del Rey sings in “This is What Makes Us Girls.”
Del Rey glorifies the idea of girls seducing older men, creating a bad example for young girls. Her recent popularity has brought a bigger fanbase, influencing teenagers and young adults to romanticize smoking and pedophilia.