Did Travis Scott Erase a Trans Woman Off The Cover Of His Album?

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Travis Scott is getting labeled transphobic because of his album art for his new album, “Astroworld”. “Astroworld” has two different covers. One more family-friendly, and another much more risqué version featuring nudity in an ornate and crazed circus setting, that featured in part transgender model Amanda Lepore.

https://instagram.com/p/Bl7YbRbDbS2/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=embed_loading_state_control

Amanda Lepore shared a version of the NSFW cover with her in it, but she’s nowhere to be found in the final version. This has sent fans and those who speak up for trans rights to speak out against this kind of erasure, including RuPaul star Aquaria.

Travis Scott is claiming to have never seen the version with Lepore featured. The photographer behind the image, the famed Dave LaChapelle said, “Stuff happens not everything’s a hate situation. Everybody wants to explain everything with some phobia or whatever . . . ain’t nothing to do with hating.”

Scott recently had a child with Kylie Jenner, who is the daughter of Caitlyn Jenner, arguably the world’s most famous transgender person. Wether this was accidental or not, Scott and the world at large has to remain more aware of the sensitive issues regarding trangender depiction, and how trans erasure can hurt the LGBTQ community.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmEs0WmDLFz/?taken-by=amandalepore

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Amanda Lepore later reposted a message from Travis Scott on Instagram that included, amongst other things, an excitement for the final finished Astroworld product, and a support of the transgender community. It’s unknown wether this will placate the critics, or indeed prove anything, but Travis Scott’s desire to show his support for the trans community is promising, even if it came at the end of a great amount of criticism.

What do you think of the story? Were Travis Scott and photographer Dave LaChapelle acting out of transphobia, or was it an honest mistake? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter at @WhatsTrending.

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