It was late 2020. The world was still very much in the thick of the pandemic, and everyone was on edge. Then, Lana Del Rey walked into a Barnes & Noble at The Grove in Los Angeles. She was there for a surprise signing of her poetry book, Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass. But nobody was looking at the book. They were looking at her face.
She was wearing a glittery, rhinestone-encrusted mesh mask. You could see her smile through it. You could see her nose. To the internet, it looked like she was wearing a fishing net as a surgical barrier.
The backlash was instant. Brutal. Honestly, it was one of those rare moments where the "stans" and the critics actually agreed on something: they were baffled.
The Sparkly Covering Heard 'Round the World
Lana has always had this old-Hollywood, "don't care" aesthetic. It's why we love her. But in October 2020, "not caring" looked a lot like a public health hazard. Photos from the event showed her leaning in close to fans, signing books, and posing for selfies.
The lana del rey mesh mask became a meme within hours. People were comparing it to a screen door on a submarine. Her sister, Chuck Grant, tried to do some damage control early on, telling fans that Lana had tested negative and was staying six feet away.
Except the photos showed otherwise. She was definitely not six feet away.
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The "Plastic Lining" Defense
For over a month, Lana stayed quiet. She’s never been one to jump on a trend—even the trend of apologizing. But then, in November, she finally broke her silence on Twitter (now X).
Her explanation? The mask had a clear plastic lining sewn into it.
"The mask had plastic on the inside. They’re commonly sewn in by stylists these days. I don’t generally respond to articles because I don’t care. But there ya go."
She also mentioned that the same went for the masks used in her "Chemtrails Over the Country Club" music video. Basically, she was saying, "I'm not stupid, it’s a professional costume piece."
Why People Didn't Buy It
The internet is a cynical place. When she dropped the plastic lining bombshell, people started zooming in on high-res photos from the Barnes & Noble event.
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The skepticism came down to a few things:
- The "Fog" Factor: If you've ever worn a plastic face shield or a mask with a window, you know they fog up instantly when you breathe. In the videos of Lana reading her poetry, there was zero condensation.
- The Texture: In some clips, the mesh looked soft and draped against her face. Plastic is usually stiffer.
- The Timing: Waiting 45 days to say "it had plastic" felt like a retroactive excuse to many.
Whether the plastic was there or not, the optics were a nightmare. Even if it was safe, it looked unsafe. And in 2020, looking safe was half the battle for celebrities trying to maintain their public image.
Context Matters: The "Question for the Culture" Era
You have to remember what else was happening with Lana at the time. She was already in hot water for her "Question for the Culture" post where she called out other female artists. She was being accused of "glamorizing abuse" and was facing questions about her political leanings.
The mesh mask wasn't just a fashion choice; it became a symbol for her critics. To them, it represented a celebrity who felt the rules didn't apply to her. To her hardcore fans, it was just Lana being "eccentric" and "unbothered."
Expert Take: The Stylist's Perspective
Stylists actually do use clear inserts. It's a real thing in film and TV production to show an actor's face while maintaining protocols. But these are usually medical-grade clear vinyl or specific breathable plastics designed for the industry.
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If Lana's team did sew in a liner, it likely wasn't a "mask" in the way we think of them, but a custom-made barrier. The problem? Most people aren't stylists. They're people trying to get through a pandemic who see a wealthy singer wearing a lace doily on her face.
What We Can Learn From the Mesh Mask Mess
Looking back, the lana del rey mesh mask controversy was a perfect storm of bad timing and a "persona" clashing with reality. Lana eventually moved on, releasing two more albums and basically ignoring the "cancellation" until it went away.
If you're looking for actionable takeaways from this weird era of pop culture:
- Optics are reality. In a crisis, what things look like matters as much as what they are.
- Verify your gear. If you’re using "fashion" PPE, ensure it actually meets the standards of the environment you're in.
- Transparency helps. Had the "plastic lining" been mentioned the day of the signing, the 45-day news cycle of hate probably wouldn't have happened.
Lana is still Lana. She’s still wearing whatever she wants—whether it’s a dress from a mall or a vintage piece from the 60s. But you probably won't see her in a mesh mask again anytime soon. Or if you do, she'll probably make sure the plastic is visible this time.
The reality is that Lana survives these things because her music is good enough to make people forget the drama. She’s one of the few artists who can lean into being "problematic" and come out the other side with a #1 album.
Check out the "Chemtrails Over the Country Club" video if you want to see the mask in high definition. It's a gorgeous video, regardless of the drama behind the fabric.