Shawn Mendes Provides Explanation After Being Criticized for Using Air Pollution Crisis to Promote Music

Shawn Mendes has landed himself at the center of online controversy after his latest music promo rubbed some fans the wrong way.

The Canadian singer, 24, recently announced his brand new single "What The Hell Are We Dying For" which featured imagery of the New York City air pollution crisis as the song's cover art.

The photo used for the cover, which was shared to both Instagram and Twitter, featured the city's skyline covered by a thick orange, haze. As we know, the city has been suffering from poor air quality as a result of the wildfires in Canada.

But Mendes' use of the pics has prompted some internet users to criticize him for using the pollution for marketing content.

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"Why are you trying to profit off a natural disaster" one user questioned under the singer's Instagram post, as another person asserted, "my trauma is not your cover art 😤."

"ppl are dying in wildfires n getting sick by the poor air quality n u rlly decided to make it ur aesthetic?" someone else challenged.

The questionable cover art, as well as the fitting title of the song, had some fans wondering if the song is meant to be a form of protesting the climate crisis, or bringing awareness to the climate-related issues. Plus, the singer-songwriter is also from Canada, which could potentially make the situation more important for him.

"I can already feel this will be about climate change!" one fan exclaimed before the song released.

"If this isn't some protest song then I'm going to feel very uncomfortable for that cover art," another hopeful person added.

But after hearing the song, the lyrics appear to reference a romantic relationship, and it's not exactly clear whether he was trying to make a statement about climate change with the song.

"I definitely see it as both a breakup song and about the pain the wildfires have caused," one user wrote, while another added, "I know that you're sincerely passionate about climate change but this is not it. Using cataclysmic images/events for your product branding comes off as exploitative, cheap and unaware."

However, Mendes seemed to smooth things over after noting in a follow-up tweet that he will be donating to the Canadian Red Cross, which is currently working to provide aid amid the Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada fires.

"thank you" one fan wrote in response to the tweet.

"I appreciate you more than anything," wrote another.

Next: Andy Cohen Describes New York City as 'End of the World' Amid Air Quality Crisis