Courtney Love isn't making friends right now.
The Hole frontwoman has ruffled feathers in a new interview with the Standard as she expressed her unfiltered, unfavorable opinions on some of the most popular female artists of the moment: Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Lana Del Rey, Madonna.
Of Swift, she said, "Taylor is not important. She might be a safe space for girls, and she’s probably the Madonna of now, but she’s not interesting as an artist."
I personally find this a bizarre thing to say, but others were—as you might imagine—straight-up enraged by Love's comments.
"100 years from now, the name Courtney Love will mean nothing," one person wrote on Twitter. "Not a single person will know who she is. But when Taylor Swift is mentioned, people will remember how she was able to connect with millions of people thru her music, cherished her fans, and fought for artists’ rights."
100 years from now, the name Courtney Love will mean nothing. Not a single person will know who she is. But when Taylor Swift is mentioned, people will remember how she was able to connect with millions of people thru her music, cherished her fans, and fought for artists’ rights. https://t.co/gNx0f9KxdPApril 15, 2024
"I guess the biggest artist in the world. The one with the most streams. The most sales. The biggest tour. The highest chart placements. The most impact. Is somehow… 'not important.' Okay Courtney…" wrote someone else.
I guess the biggest artist in the world. The one with the most streams. The most sales. The biggest tour. The highest chart placements. The most impact. Is somehow… “not important.” Okay Courtney…April 15, 2024
Others pointed out that Love is known for her DGAF attitude to speaking her mind, with one person writing, "I'm laughing at people being shocked that Courtney Love is hating on other female artists. Welcome to 1992!!! Homegirl has been a hater since the 90s."
I'm laughing at people being shocked that Courtney Love is hating on other female artists. Welcome to 1992!!! Homegirl has been a hater since the 90s. pic.twitter.com/6viqH2LGmeApril 15, 2024
Love herself made this point, as the Standard interview kicks off with her saying, "People used to say that I was so difficult. They said I was disagreeable. Yes, I am completely disagreeable and I’m never going to apologize for that. I always wanted to be known as a bitch." So there's that.
Elsewhere in the article, Love took aim at Lana Del Rey: "I haven’t liked Lana since she covered a John Denver song, and I think she should really take seven years off," she said.
She reiterated her disdain for Madonna: "I don’t like her and she doesn’t like me," she said. "I loved Desperately Seeking Susan, but for the city of New York as much as her."
The two women have had beef for decades, culminating in that one time Love threw her compact at Madonna as the latter was mid-interview, with the "Like a Virgin" singer hitting us with the zinger, "Courtney Love is in dire need of attention right now." Yikessss.
Last but not least, Love expressed her Big Thoughts on Beyoncé.
"I like the idea of Beyoncé doing a country record because it’s about Black women going into spaces where previously only white women have been allowed, not that I like it much," she said. "As a concept, I love it. I just don’t like her music."
I mean, it's kind of refreshing for someone in the spotlight to speak their mind to this extent—I just wish it wasn't gratuitous and at other women's expense. By contrast, Reneé Rapp is an expert at striking the right note on that front.
