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The heavy guitar riff of Metallica's Seek & Destroy kicks in. A man in a camouflage hat steadies himself at the firing line, raises a semi-automatic rifle and lets rip, sending round after round into the target.
It could be a scene straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster, but the sharpshooter is Lana Del Rey's husband, Jeremy Dufrene.
'Shot the zombie guy in the head,' the Louisiana alligator tour guide wrote over the Instagram clip, just a month after gushing over the couple's second wedding anniversary.
It's the latest sign Dufrene isn't just stepping out of his wife's shadow, but stepping up as her protector.
In recent weeks, the 51-year-old has denied cheating claims and taken aim at Ricky Q, a fan of Del Rey's who her followers have expressed concern about.
With Del Rey, 41, gearing up to release new music, and a promotional blitz that could pull the pair out of their cosy Louisiana bubble, insiders tell the Daily Mail his guard-dog instincts are only going to get sharper.
'Jeremy is absolutely a protector, a bodyguard-like man. He's always very protective of people's feelings whom he's close to. He's going to be protective of Lana, it's in his nature,' said a source close to Dufrene.
Insiders have told the Daily Mail that Lana Del Rey's husband Jeremy Dufrene isn't just stepping out of her shadow, he's stepping up as her protector (pictured together in January)
When he posted a video of himself at a shooting range (pictured) fans were quick to hail him Del Rey's protector (Source: Jeremy Dufrene/Instagram)
And that's exactly how the Summertime Sadness singer likes it, according to a music insider.
'Lana loves Jeremy because he is very protective, he is like a big bear who can scare off the bad guys for her. He would take a bullet for her any day.'
It's a love story that could have been lifted straight from a Lana Del Rey lyric.
The pair met in 2019 when Del Rey hopped aboard one of Dufrene's swamp tours. They reconnected and sparked romance rumors five years later, and married in September 2024 on the very bayou where it all began.
Dufrene, who was previously married, is also a doting dad of three, with two daughters and a son.
Del Rey rarely discusses her marriage, but she once described her man as 'the most impactful person in my life' to W Magazine and revealed that her song Stars Fell on Alabama is about him.
But being Mr Lana Del Rey has come with its share of trolls.
And lately he's been fighting back, starting with a blistering denial after rumors spread online that he had been unfaithful.
Dufrene fired back at Ricky Q, who had taken a swipe at the couple under an anniversary photo shared by her father, Rob Grant
An influencer reposted the claim, admitting it remained unverified, before Dufrene stormed into the comments section, fuming: 'Who is this rumor spreading b!+(h?' Then he reassured his wife's fans: 'Yall don't believe this.'
He insisted he was 'with Lana 24-7 or she knows exactly where or what I'm doing. She seen this and was like what bull s***. Lady go fly a kite if you know how.'
The source close to Dufrene backed him up: 'He doesn't leave her side. Lana loves that he's available to be there with her. She wanted a man who could be by her side all the time.'
Despite his comments, the insider said clapbacks aren't Dufrene's style - unless the woman he loves is in the firing line.
'He prefers being quiet unless he has to step in,' they said. 'He's a private person. If he speaks out it's more to protect Lana or whoever. He cares about the people he loves and will do whatever it takes to protect them.'
And despite the gung-ho range footage, the insider insists he's no hothead.
'He's not aggressive, he wouldn't start a fight but he would definitely not be scared to fight with someone if someone else started it,' they said. 'He wouldn't back down from a fight.'
That was clear a few weeks ago when he fired back at Ricky Q, who had taken a swipe at the couple under an anniversary photo shared by Del Rey's father, Rob Grant.
'Jeremy is absolutely a protector, a bodyguard-like man. He's always very protective of people's feelings whom he's close to. He's going to be protective of Lana, it's in his nature,' said a source close to Dufrene (Source: Lana Del Rey/ Instagram)
Ricky Q, who goes by the handle dat1guitarguy, wrote: 'Shame dat she settled for da lowest of the barrel hah but hey let her do her thang.'
Dufrene didn't hold back. '@dat1guitarguy it's a shame that someone like you talk s*** all the time. For someone that's been stalking her for years. Maybe we can meet up one day and see what you have to say. Till then bring your bulls*** somewhere else.'
Fighting talk, but the music insider says he has good reason: 'He would like her to be more careful with the people she interacts with, and create a shield around herself because so many people think they know her.'
Dufrene may be right to keep Ricky Q in his sights, as the fan has spent years trailing the singer and has even posted footage of her with her arms around him at Coachella.
Such footage has unsettled some fans.
One clip from 2022 appears to show him trying to get close to Del Rey as she climbs into a car outside a venue, while security guards reprimand him.
Reddit users have also shared comments he apparently left on the Instagram page of Del Rey's sister, photographer Caroline 'Chuck' Grant, which he posted on July 20, 2025, and which read: 'Well Chuck you're a c*** u already know that! But tell you sister that she is the worst type of woman bc she ghosts.'
That same day, he also posted a photo of himself posing with her father, Grant, captioning it: 'maybe you should tell your daughter to do better.'
Dufrene may be right to keep Ricky Q in his sights, as the fan has spent years trailing the singer and has even posted footage of her with her arms around him at Coachella (pictured) (Source: Ricky Q/Instagram)
Ricky Q also posed for a photo with Del Rey's father Grant, which he posted online (above), then later wrote on the businessman's Instagram: 'maybe you should tell your daughter to do better' (Source: Ricky Q/Instagram)
It's exactly the kind of behavior that has put Dufrene on high alert, with the insider explaining: '[Lana] has some very dedicated fans, and that scares him, and she has listened to him and has pulled back.'
And it seems she has been taking his advice. In July 2025, Del Rey blocked Ricky Q seemingly after he commented on a photo showing Dufrene's tanned forearm and joked that his hand needed SPF.
Ricky Q didn't take it well, and ranted on social media: 'I've said so much worse s*** in her dms and posts. I've trolled each of her dozen exes since 2019. Imma shake my f**ing head Blocking me over that r**** redneck of a last min husband.'
His outburst could explain why Dufrene's guard is up. After all Del Rey has had some terrifying incidents in the past.
In February 2018, police arrested Michael Shawn Hunt a block from her Orlando concert after a tip-off about his threatening Facebook posts. He was carrying tickets to the show and a three-inch folding knife.
Days later, a tearful Del Rey broke down on stage in Atlanta as she opened up to fans about the scare.
Hunt later pleaded no contest to stalking and was jailed for a year.
'He's very old fashioned and thinks a man needs to watch out for his wife. He always puts [Lana] first,' the source said of Dufrene (pictured together in February)
Those close to Dufrene say he is determined that history won't repeat itself.
As Del Rey gears up to release not one but two albums, Stove and a companion record reportedly called Spyda, she knows exactly who she will have by her side.
'She is madly in love and has told friends that he is her "rock,"' our music insider said.
'He's very old fashioned and thinks a man needs to watch out for his wife. He always puts her first. He is a Southern gentleman too, and listens to her and gives her tons of love and security.'
The Daily Mail has contacted Ricky Q as well as representatives for Dufrene and Del Rey for comment.
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