Why Travis Scott Photoshopped transgender model Amanda Lepore out of album cover
Travis Scott is getting backlash over one of the photos for his new album, Astroworld. After unveiling the official cover art, fans noticed one big difference between the picture posted by Scott and by photographer David LaChapelle: Transgender model Amanda Lepore was cut out of Scott’s final version.
Lepore was initially perplexed by why she was missing, posting the original photo on her Instagram page, writing, “I’m curious why I’m not on the picture @travisscott posted.” You can see screenshots of the posts below, with Lepore being visible in her photo on the left side of the picture, in-between the rocket and Scott’s head.
Travis Scott edited out transgender model Amanda Lepore from the final version of his #Astroworld album cover. pic.twitter.com/ug6ySU67YV
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) August 1, 2018
Yahoo Entertainment contacted a representative for Scott, but did not immediately receive a response. However, the renowned photographer offered an explanation Tuesday: Lepore was just too good-looking.
As disappointed fans — include Lepore — flocked to LaChapelle’s comment section to find out what happened, he replied to one person that “she just upstaged every one lol.” He wrote to another that it had nothing to do with any kind of “phobia or whatever” and that she “can’t seem to control” upstaging people, adding, “lol ain’t nothing to do with hating.”
LaChapelle and Lepore have a good relationship and have worked together on numerous occasions.
My Own Marilyn, 2002 . © David LaChapelle
A post shared by David LaChapelle (@david_lachapelle) on May 21, 2018 at 1:48pm PDT
The explanation seems to be good enough for Lepore. She edited the original caption of her Instagram post, keeping the part about being “curious” as to why she’s not in the picture, but added, “A girl can’t help it! Too distracting for the eyes! Upstaged everyone in the photograph!” Clearly there are no hard feelings, as she said she loved both LaChapelle and Scott.
A post shared by Amanda Lepore (@amandalepore) on Aug 1, 2018 at 12:26am PDT
LaChapelle defended Scott on Lepore’s page too, writing in the comment section of the above photo, “Travis is the coolest and don’t give a f*** about nothing.”
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Aquaria, the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 10, had a lot to say on the matter.
Hi transphobia! I just saw transphobia gurl!
— Aquaria (@aquariaofficial) August 1, 2018
“[I]f I hear one more whack ass opinion regarding Amanda ‘blocking the iconic Travis statute’ or ‘b-b-b-but what about caitlyn Jenner!’ or ‘artistic preference’ or really anything similar I’m going to lose my mind… call s*** like it is and don’t blame art for ur transphobia,” she wrote. “Maybe not even ‘immediate’ transphobia but specific exclusion of trans bodies. S***’s still transphobic if u think people won’t buy your album because Amanda is on the cover looking flawless as ever.”
Many took to Twitter to express similar disappointment.
I love Travis Scott and I know he probably did this because of his homophobic/transphobic fan base…he probably realized people would look into it and find Amanda and bring her up…I’m disgusted by him doing this though
— ₆⁶₆ 𝖏𝖚𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖓 ₆⁶₆ (@yungpastel) August 1, 2018
to further go into this, it’s unprofessional to edit someone’s artwork like that because of his blatant transphobic views.
— coco (@coracotto) August 1, 2018
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