The world is watching as cities across America protest against the injustices that have been happening against Black people in the course of American history. George Floyd’s murder this week reignited the public conversation regarding social injustices and anti-Black practices that have gone on in America for far too long. 

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Michelle Obama, our forever First Lady, took to Instagram where she penned an emotional message in wake of Floyd’s passing. Sharing powerful artwork from Nikkolas Smith, a concept artist, and illustrator, who drew tribute pieces for Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd,  with an open letter.

“Like so many of you, I’m pained by these recent tragedies. And I’m exhausted by a heartbreak that never seems to stop. Right now it’s George, Breonna, and Ahmaud. Before that it was Eric, Sandra, and Michael. It just goes on, and on, and on,” she wrote. “Race and racism is a reality that so many of us grow up learning to just deal with. But if we ever hope to move past it, it can’t just be on people of color to deal with it. It’s up to all of us—Black, white, everyone—no matter how well-meaning we think we might be, to do the honest, uncomfortable work of rooting it out.”

She added, “It starts with self-examination and listening to those whose lives are different from our own. It ends with justice, compassion, and empathy that manifests in our lives and on our streets. I pray we all have the strength for that journey, just as I pray for the souls and the families of those who were taken from us.”

Peep the artwork below. 

All it took was an open letter for Lana Del Rey to immerse herself into the center of a bonafide controversy. While it could be argued that she knew exactly what she was getting into, the Norman Fucking Rockwell songwriter has never been one to bite her tongue. In case you missed it, Del Rey initially sparked the madness by directly naming Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Camila Cabello, and more in a complicated open letter meant to highlight the hypocritical views many hold toward female songwriters in the game.

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It didn't take long before people began accusing her of being racist, a narrative that quickly began gaining steam on social media. With things seeming to spiral out of control, Del Rey took to Instagram to further elaborate on her position -- once more drawing a comparison with another prominent female songwriter. But first, she doubled down on the thesis statement. "I just want to remind you that in that post – my one and only personal declaration I’ve ever made, thanks for being so warm and welcoming – was about the need for fragility in the feminist movement."

“I just think it’s sad the women I mentioned, whether they sing about dancing for money – the same stuff, by the way, I’ve been singing about chronically for 13 years, " she continues. "Yes, they are my contemporaries, yes they are my friends. The difference is, when I get on the pole people call me a whore, but when [FKA] Twigs gets on the pole, it’s art. I’m reminded constantly by my friends, that lyrically there are layers and complicated psychological factors that play into some of my songwriting," she continues. "But the culture is super sick right now. People want to turn my advocacy for fragility into a race war -- it's really bad." 

Check out her full PSA below, and sound off -- do you think Lana Del Rey has a point?

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A post shared by Lana Del Rey (@lanadelrey) on May 25, 2020 at 2:29am PDT

No one expected for the Cancel Culture to come for Lana Del Rey, but after she penned a lengthy open letter, things took a turn on Thursday (May 21). In the note, Lana Del  Rey writes that throughout her career, she’s been criticized for her lyrical content. She pens songs about staying in relationships that aren’t healthy or other matters that critics claim are glorifying abuse because, according to the singer, they come from a woman writing about her truth. In turn, in Lana’s recent controversial letter, she stated that because other female artists like Beyoncé, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, Cardi B, Kehlani, Ariana Grande, and Camila Cabello have been allowed to own their truths and top the charts by singing about whatever they want, it’s time for people to stop shaming her for doing the same thing.

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Immediately, people began to comment that Lana Del Rey was shading all of the women she listed in her letter, and because they’re all women of color, the singer was labeled as a racist. While it seemed as if she was looking to speak about allowing women to express themselves however they like, Cancel Culture went wild and blasted Lana Del Rey throughout all social media platforms for being shady.

The Shade Room shared a screenshot of a comment Lana reportedly left on Instagram about the controversy. “Bro. This is sad to make it about a WOC issue when I’m talking about my favorite singers. I could’ve literally said anyone but I picked my favorite f*cking people,” she wrote. “And this is the problem with society today, not everything is about whatever you want it to be. It’s exactly the point of my post – there are certain women that culture doesn’t want to have a voice it may not have to do with race I don’t know what it has to do with. I don’t’ care anymore but don’t ever ever ever ever bro- call me racist because that is bullsh*t.” Check it out below.

Belly has been XO's secret weapon for years. An accomplished songwriter and rapper in his own right, he's proven his worth in the music industry throughout the past 15 years of his career, before breaking into the American market. In the past few years alone, his penmanship has received praise from the likes of Jay-Z and the late Nipsey Hussle.

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Unfortunately, not all has been well in Belly's world. Though it may have felt like he hasn't been as visible in the past few years, he shared an open letter on Twitter where he gave fans a brief update on what's been going on in his life.

"The last couple years have been fucked up for me in almost every way. I've been in and out of therapy for over a year (depression, PTSD). I gotta do physical therapy twice a week (back/neck injuries) and I can't even tour or travel too much. I got put on anti-depressants (I'm off now) lost my confidence and regained most of the weight that I lost. Emotionally, mentally & physically, I was rock bottom," he wrote.

However, he did acknowledge the silver lining in his situation -- there's only going up from here.

"If anything can bring me back from the ashes; it's music, my family & my fans. I don't need sympathy or pity from anybody, I'm only saying this to let y'all know: I won't let down and die," he continued before teasing the release of new music. "See you next Wednesday."

Read his post below.