Lorde details her identity dysphoria after being accused of ‘gender baiting’ and opens up about drug use and health woes in searingly honest chat

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In a recent interview, Lorde addressed the concerns raised about her identity, following accusations of misrepresentation of gender, which some referred to as ‘gender baiting‘.

The twenty-eight-year-old artist strikingly posed for a photo series with Dazed magazine. Later, during an interview, she candidly admitted, “Ever since my teenage years, I’ve made numerous mistakes in my life.

In May, Lorde, who identifies with the she/her pronouns, faced criticism after it seemed she identified as non-binary during an interview that left many perplexed.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Chappell Roan inquired about Lorde’s gender identity. Lorde responded by saying, “I consider myself female most of the time, but there are days when I feel masculine.” She also mentioned that she finds herself in the middle regarding gender identification, yet she identifies as a trans woman who was assigned female at birth (cisgender).

During her conversation with Dazed, Lorde admitted that she had inaccurately represented Chapell’s words when asked if she identified as non-binary. Instead of saying what was actually said, Lorde mentioned regretfully, “She had sweetly asked something like, ‘Are your pronouns changing?’

Expressing her identity more clearly, she mentioned that sometimes she finds it challenging to wear traditional female clothing, and there are instances when she experiences feelings of detachment or disconnect, almost as if she is not fully in control of her body.

Lorde expressed that she experienced a pure form of self when she initially bound her chest to create an appearance without breasts, yet she noted that she was still exploring and understanding what her identity signified to her.

She said, “I believe it needs time for processing and discovery. I’m eager to see where this leads, if it eventually reaches a conclusion. Throughout your life, it continues to unveil itself.

In my recent conversations, I’ve openly shared my experiences with MDMA, often referred to as Ecstasy or Molly on the streets. This chemical compound is a significant part of certain social and musical experiences for many individuals, myself included.

Previously, Lorde attributed her overcoming stage fright to MDMA treatment – undergoing a controlled dosage of the substance in a medically supervised environment, while also receiving counseling from a trained professional.

Reinforcing her statement, when questioned about MDMA being her preferred drug, she replied casually: “Indeed.

Yet when asked when she first took the drug, she confessed: ‘Too young.’

In my pursuit of understanding, I delved into the topic of how substances in medications can distort one’s sense of reality. I also shared my personal struggle with a particularly intense form of premenstrual syndrome known as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). This condition manifests itself through a variety of emotional and physical symptoms that I experience in the days leading up to my menstruation.

In simpler terms, Lorde shared that after stopping her birth control, she experienced severe mood swings monthly, leading to a diagnosis of PMDD – a form of clinical depression that occurs cyclically.

I have found effective treatment for this, and I only take a small amount of Prozac once a month, split in half. This has significantly improved my life, and I follow an exact schedule each month to take it – it’s truly been a game-changer.

This year, Lorde has been stirring up excitement among fans once again by returning to the music scene, and they went wild when she unveiled her latest work in April – her first new music in four years.

Ella Yelich-O’Connor, the New Zealand-born singer known to many as Lorde, shared a preview of her song “What It Is,” seeming to express thoughts about the disintegration of a turbulent romance that started during her adolescence.

In the ensuing month, she revealed both the title and provocative artwork for her fourth studio album titled “Virgin”. The controversial artwork depicted an X-ray that seemed to show a part of her lower body, including her pelvic region, hip bones, belt buckle, and zipper.

Intriguing discussions among fans were sparked by a distinct element spotted on an X-ray – a T-shaped object, which seemed to resemble an intrauterine device (IUD), a form of contraception inserted into the uterus.

In a surprising move, she subsequently unveiled a more open rendition of the vinyl artwork, which seemed to depict her lower body concealed under a pair of translucent trousers.

Expressing their surprise on social media platforms, some concerned fans expressed apprehension over their relatives possibly encountering the explicit content displayed on the cover.

On the other hand, some people didn’t find the vinyl’s artwork to be overly critical and even considered it ‘beautiful’. They thought it was quite a distance from being shocking.

In an explanation following speculation about her depiction in the artwork, Lorde shared that she had battled significantly with body image issues in the past, to the point where her thoughts were predominantly consumed by striving for the lowest weight possible.

In an open conversation with Jack Saunders on Radio 1, she revealed that early in the year 2023, she faced a mental struggle which made it challenging for her to concentrate on creative endeavors or producing music.

At Glastonbury, she expressed on stage that she felt she might never create music again – a statement that prompted Jack to seek further explanation during their interview.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I can empathize with Lorde when she confessed that at the start of 2023, she found herself in a creative rut. Her inspiration seemed elusive, and she felt disconnected from her creativity. The creative well ran dry, and new ideas were scarce. In simpler terms, it was like hitting a creative wall, feeling creatively drained, and doubting one’s ability to produce anything worthwhile.

During this time, I was striving to maintain the lowest weight I could, my mind constantly preoccupied with thoughts of food, weight, and exercise. Even in sleep, these thoughts persisted, while upon waking, they were the first things on my mind. This, in a way, could be considered an unconventional form of artistic expression.

In that moment, I realized that this behavior was leading me down a path I needed to change because it was hindering my creativity and artistic expression.

‘Once that went away it all started to come back!’

For confidential support in the UK, call Samaritans on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org 

In the US, you can reach Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741 

In Australia contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636

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2025-09-08 18:51