Ethel Cain Owns up to Racist Comments: “I Was Provocative for Laughs”

Singer-songwriter Ethel Cain is facing backlash after a series of racist and offensive posts she made as a teenager resurfaced online. 

Cain first made waves with her debut studio album “Preacher’s Daughter” in 2022. She followed up in January with the experimental EP “Perverts.” Since then, she has steadily built a following through viral TikTok clips and her Freezer Bride and Blood Stained Blonde tours. Her sophomore album, “Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You,” is set to arrive on Aug. 8. She has already announced a supporting world tour.

Now, Cain is being forced to apologize. The singer has taken responsibility for her racist remarks, but not everyone is willing to forgive her. Here’s a look at what Cain said. 

Ethel Cain has apologized for ‘racist statements’ she made at 19.

Cain, born Hayden Silas Anhedönia, issued an apology and said she’s ready to reckon with her past. At the same time, she’s fighting what she calls a “coordinated smear campaign” aimed at derailing her career. At the center of the controversy are screenshots of posts Cain wrote at age 19 on the anonymous Q&A platform Curious Cat, per People magazine.

The singer allegedly hurled racial slurs, mused “Build the wall!” and cracked jokes that made light of rape and body image issues. On July 9, Cain shared a statement over 2,000 words long via a Google Doc link in her Instagram Stories. In it, she took responsibility for those remarks.

“I would have said (and usually did say) anything, about anyone, to gain attention and ultimately just make my friends laugh,” Cain wrote. “At the end of the day, I am white, so while I can take accountability for my actions, there’s no way for me to fully understand the way it feels to be on the receiving end of them. All I can say is that I am truly sorry from the bottom of my heart to anyone who read it then and to anyone reading it now. Any way you feel about me moving forward is valid.”

Cain admitted she acted “deliberately provocative” at the time. She switched stances to shock and entertain her small circle, not to cause harm, but now she acknowledges that her words inflicted real damage.

Ethel Cain denied several viral rumors.

While Cain has apologized for making racist remarks, she denied the more severe allegations against her. She insisted that some of the harsher claims — such as fetishizing incest in her artwork or creating child pornography — are false. Cain said these accusations are part of a targeted campaign. She described it as involving hacking, doxxing, and harassment, specifically aimed at her as a trans woman.

So far, Cain’s career machinery hasn’t stalled. “Preacher’s Daughter” even debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 after its vinyl release in April, making her the first trans artist to do so, per Pink News. However, fans and critics are divided — some say her apology shows growth, while others doubt Cain has truly changed. 

Cain is now gearing up for the drop of “Willoughby Tucker.” However, she’s vowed to keep the focus on her art and on accountability. “In this day and age, just as I must be diligent with my voice and my actions, you share the same responsibility,” she concluded. Only time will tell if her fans will stick around.

Do you think artists should be “canceled” for things they said as teenagers? Comment below!