Singer Ethel Cain Apologizes for Racist Posts Amid Smear Campaign

Ethel Cain, the transgender singer-songwriter whose real name is Hayden Anhedönia, has publicly apologized for a series of offensive posts she made online around the age of 19, which included racist language, the use of the N-word, fat-shaming, rape jokes, and other inflammatory content. Cain explained that these remarks were made deliberately to be provocative and to garner attention within an online subculture she was part of, and although she was aware of the impact at the time, she now deeply regrets her past behavior and takes full accountability. She described her high school years as a period of extreme ideological flip-flopping, initially embracing progressive views before rejecting them and seeking controversy. Cain also condemned the manner in which these posts were resurfaced, alleging a coordinated smear campaign involving hacking, doxxing, and harassment of her and her family, and said her team is pursuing legal recourse. While she expressed remorse and a commitment to using her platform for positive change, she clarified that some controversial imagery, such as a 'legalise incest' t-shirt, was part of her exploration of taboo subjects in her art and was never sold as merchandise. The backlash arose just weeks before the release of her second album, "Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You."