Travis Scott is being criticized for seemingly editing trans model Amanda Lepore out of the artwork for his new album Astroworld.
The rapper shared two versions of the cover art on Instagram on Wednesday and Lepore was among the first to notice her image has been deleted from the artwork shot by David LaChapelle.
But, while she seemed to take it in stride – “A girl can’t help it! I’m too distracting for the eyes,” she wrote. “I upstaged everyone in the photograph! Oh well… I love David LaChapelle and Travis Scott. Love and kisses” – others are not as forgiving.
On social media, Scott is being accused of transphobia.
"His masculinity is so fragile that he won’t even have an accomplished transgender woman on his album cover," one person tweeted. Another commented: "This is some bulls**t– you wanna work with iconic artists but can’t handle their vision because of some pathetic outdated transphobia."
But, LaChapelle, whose original version remains on his Instagram, has come to Scott’s defence.
"Everybody wants to explain everything with some phobia or whatever,” he said. “Ain't nothing to do with hating.”
Meanwhile, a second version of the Astroworld cover is getting rave reviews from artists like Kanye West and Canada’s The Weeknd.
"bro this is f**king fire @travisscott," The Weeknd wrote on Instagram. "are you kidding me?"