Travis Scott shared the image for his upcoming album Astroworld, set for release this Friday. But one person is missing: trans icon Amanda Lepore.
Travis Scott is a rapper and producer originally from Houston, Texas. He began his music career as a record producer at age 16. He is known not only for his music, but also for dating Kylie Jenner, the daughter of Caitlyn Jenner.
Photographer David LaChappelle, who shot the image for Scott’s new album, shared his version on Instagram, and in the back Lepore can be seen showing off her assets. But when Scott shared the image on his Instagram, Lepore was nowhere to be seen.
Lepore herself is outright confused. She shared on Instagram Wednesday morning, “It was great being part of @david_lachapelle s incredible photograph of @travisscott s albulm cover but I’m curious why I’m not on the picture @travisscott posted ??? #amandalepore #glamourgirl #whatsgoingon #theT”
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Fans have flooded Scott’s Instagram, asking where Lepore is.
One writes, “It’s honestly really sad to see that someone with so much impact could’ve started a conversation and made some actual change but instead they decide to be transphobic and not make change. This is why the government is the way it is. I don’t care what anyone says, it’s transphobia. Because you are a beautiful trans woman that was the only one completely removed from this photo. Maybe if you were kept on it, I probably would’ve went out and bought the album, but now I won’t be.”
Another adds, “Ashamed at you for standing by and letting this flagrant and ignorant oversight to exclude one particular woman in what is ultimately YOUR visual and artistic representation. you want to stand up for the freaks in the world? there went your chance, you’re just another trash male artist.”
Queerty reached out to LaChapelle and Lepore, who have a long-standing artistic relationship, for comment on this. We will update this post if they get back to us.
Donston
It’s kind of a double-edged sword. Taking her out of picture was clearly a transphobic move. Shouldn’t have had her a part of the photo shoot to begin with if you were gonna do that. But also, the album cover is clearly going for “circus freaks”. Many trans people are tired of being looked at as freaks and being fetishized. And I’m not certain if Amanda is a “trans icon” as much as a camp, queer, “weirdo” icon. So, there would still have likely been some backlash if she had remained in the photo.
Crystix
Pretty sure Amanda is a trans icon, no quotations needed. She is camp, queer, a weirdo, a freak in all the best ways possible. This is blatant transphobia and to justify her removal in any sense is to be complicit. Stand up for your sister, not the broken system.
Donston
Neither me nor my couple of trans friends have ever related to or supported Amanda. Just because there are aspects of someone you might have some things in common with doesn’t mean that they represent you or that you look up to them. However, I absolutely agree that taking her out of the picture was a sh*t move.
DarkZephyr
@Donston, NOBODY needs YOU or your friends to “relate to them” to be any kinda icon, trust and believe that. You aren’t THAT damn special.
Donston
What’s the hostility for? It’s not as if I attacked her or dismissed her. I don’t know anyone who sees her as an icon for the trans community, a “trans icon” maybe, but I’m not sure she’s an icon for the trans community or is that revered wthin it. And in general she’s always been a divisive figure. That doesn’t mean I feel some type of way if someone is a fan. But whether you see her as a “trans icon”, an icon of the trans community or whether you’re a fan or not- none of that was really what guided my post.
KevInSD
Yikes! How about a trigger warning before showing that pic?!
jimstoic
From a strictly aesthetic perspective, it looks better with Lepore. The edited version looks like it’s missing something.
tham
I agree, it looks unbalanced.
On the whole topic…I don’t know enough to form an opinion.
Me2
I can’t help but wonder if LaChapelle took liberties by including Amanda Lepore without Travis’ consent. Anyway, Amanda is not the first model to not make the final cut and she won’t be the last. The fact that she’s trans doesn’t make Travis transphobic. We would need more proof before jumping off that bridge.