Lana Del Rey “on lockdown, like a penitentiary,” during the pandemic – until there’s a book signing to attend

It seems Lana Del Rey is “Doin’ Time” social distancing from her fans after she was seen on Friday, Oct. 2, wearing a mesh face mask at a Barnes and Noble book signing in Los Angeles for her new book “Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass.” The mask in question was aesthetically pleasing but ultimately ineffective. 

The mask donned with large holes and a loose fit, which was evident in Instagram footage captured on her account, where she struggles to keep the mask over her nose as she speaks. 

A series of Instagram posts on Del Rey’s account shows the singer interacting with fans at the signing, wearing the mesh mask the whole time. Although some rushed to her defense in the comments, the posts garnered a multitude of critical responses. 

“Lana I’m begging you, wear a real mask,” one fan pleads. Others took a sterner approach, with one fan even writing, “I’m genuinely disturbed/confused by your apathy in regards to ensuring the safety of yourself and those around you.” Another concerned user wrote, “please address the mask situation… it’s absolutely embarrassing.” Despite these requests and call outs, Del Rey has not spoken out about the controversy yet. 

Two days after the book signing posts, Del Rey posted an Instagram TV video of her singing alone in her car and wearing an “actual mask,” as one fan put it. This video was met with mixed reactions. One user defended Del Rey writing, “poor woman has her video flooded with mask comments when she’s just tryna show us a poem.” While others continued to call her out for her actions. 

The singer didn’t respond to the backlash to this post either, even posting more videos and images on Oct. 16 and 17, featuring her hanging out mask-less with other individuals. 

Lana is not the first celebrity singer to have a questionable (or downright inappropriate) reaction to COVID-19. As reported by Vulture, country singer Morgan Wallen was seen partying on Saturday, Oct. 3, at a University of Alabama football game. Incriminating footage of him at this event circulated on TikTok and Twitter, capturing Wallen in the act of breaking many COVID-19 guidelines — from not wearing a mask to kissing multiple people. Wallen, who was set to perform on Saturday Night Live on Oct. 10, was informed of the cancellation of his performance due to his risky behavior.