Lepore’s axed, Kim’s vexed
TRAVIS Scott — the hot rapper and father of Kylie Jenner’s baby — has caused controversy with his new album before it has even come out.
Scott posted on Tuesday the album cover for “Astroworld,” shot by celebrity photographer David LaChapelle and depicting an X-rated amusement park with edgy half-naked models. Later, Amanda Lepore, a New York nightlife fixture and transgender icon, posted the same pic — but with her in it. “It was great being part of [LaChapelle’s] incredible photograph of [Scott’s] album cover but I’m curious why I’m not on the picture [Scott] posted.”
LaChapelle muse Lepore was in the original version of the album cover image, bending over suggestively in a garter belt. But in the finished photo, she’s been cut out, while the other models made the cut.
That sparked social-media accusations of “transphobia” from Lepore fans, including “RuPaul’s Drag Race” winner Aquaria — who posted after the controversy blew up: “u can tell exactly the mindset and beliefs of (presumably) travis and (specifically) his fans by the repulsive remarks they share about a very valid complaint about the artwork regardless of who’s complaining. Grab a towel. Your phobias are showing.” Jenner’s father is trans celeb Caitlyn Jenner. While Scott and his reps stayed mum, LaChapelle came to his defense, posting, “stuff happens not everything’s a hate situation” and “everybody wants to explain everything with some phobia or whatever . . . ain’t nothing to do with hating.” Lepore playfully added, “A girl can’t help it . . . Upstaged everyone in the photograph.”
Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian and male model Tyson Beckford got into their own separate war of words online, after Beckford commented on a Kardashian photo, “She is not real, doctor f - - ked up on her right hip.” Kardashian, who’s maintained she’s never gone under the knife, replied, “Sis we all know why you don’t care for it,” prompting accusations of homophobia. Beckford may have gotten in the last word, posting, “Always gonna pick a Beyoncé over anyone else.”