Lana Del Rey opted to attend a fan’s birthday celebration rather than join the long list of high-profile stars at Taylor Swift‘s wedding.
The high-profile event coincided with YouTuber Oli Abbas’ birthday, and Del Rey chose to celebrate with the content creator, whom she has been friends with for years. Abbas later shared photos and videos from the gathering online, along with a heartfelt message thanking the singer for making the occasion even more special.
While some of the biggest names in film and music gathered at Madison Square Garden to celebrate Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated marriage to Travis Kelce, Lana Del Rey opted for a more intimate setting, spending the day with Abbas instead.
The YouTuber later shared several videos of himself with the “Summertime Sadness” singer on social media, including one alongside a heartfelt message thanking her for being part of his special day.
“My birthday was such an amazing day surrounded by my favorite people,” he shared on his Instagram page. “So thankful for @mrsremiashten for hosting and [Del Rey and Grant] for having us as well.”
Del Rey Wins Fans Over With Birthday Gesture
In one of the videos shared online, Lana Del Rey was seen sitting beside Abbas as everyone sang “Happy Birthday” before he blew out the candles on his cake.
Seeing the close bond between the YouTuber and the singer left many fans in awe of their friendship.
“Lana Del Rey casually sitting next to him like it’s a regular birthday party,” one person wrote, while another commented, “Lana being at the party is soooo iconic.”
“You being friends with Lana is so f-cking crazy, but I love that for you,” another fan added.
Elsewhere online, fans also praised Del Rey for choosing to show up for Abbas rather than attend Taylor Swift’s wedding.
“The fact that she missed Taylor’s wedding to stay in LA for her friend’s birthday speaks volumes about how holy flipping amazing she is,” one fan wrote.
How Lana Del Rey And Oli Abbas First Met
Del Rey first met Abbas at the 2023 Billboard Women in Music Awards, where she surprised him by revealing that she watched his YouTube channel every day.
During her acceptance speech, she also gave Abbas a special shoutout, saying he was one of the vloggers who helped her through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Abbas later took to Instagram to tell his followers he was left speechless after meeting the singer, whom he had admired for years.
“You guys, I can’t believe I met my favorite artist in the world @honeymoon, and she watches my vlogs,” he wrote. “I always thought of a speech I’d say if I was so lucky to cross paths, but I couldn’t even say anything because I was so shocked! Thank you for your poise, beauty and ethereal grace.”
Oli Abbas Says Del Rey Made Him Feel Seen
Abbas later reflected on the encounter during an appearance on the “Pretty Basic” podcast, making up for being too overwhelmed to tell Del Rey everything he had wanted to say.
He called her his “number one favorite artist” and explained that her music had helped him through some of the darkest periods of his life. Abbas also praised every aspect of her artistry, from her songwriting to her cinematography, describing the opportunity to meet her as a surreal experience.
According to Abbas, Del Rey’s decision to publicly acknowledge him during one of the biggest moments of her career made him feel “seen” and “validated.” He added that it reflected her genuine appreciation for both her fans and fellow creators.
Lana Del Rey And Oli Abbas Remained Close
More than a year after that first meeting, Del Rey and Abbas’ friendship has continued to grow, as evidenced by her appearance at his recent birthday celebration.
In 2025, the pair also attended the wedding of Remi Ashten, a vlogger Del Rey mentioned in her Billboard Women in Music acceptance speech and a close friend of Abbas.
Del Rey was photographed spending time with Abbas and other members of the YouTube friendship circle during the Santa Barbara celebration. She later shared photos from the wedding and reportedly described it as one of the most enjoyable gatherings she had attended in a long time.