Doja Cat has long a history of online outbursts and sharp words for even her fans. But on Sept. 23, her response to online criticism of her newly debuted Vie cover was measured and, dare we say, pretty empathetic.
The “Jealous Type” rapper’s fourth album is set to arrive this Friday, though she began rolling out the LP this summer. On Aug. 20, she started advertising pre-orders with a close-up photo of herself laying in a bed of roses that certainly looked like it could be the LP’s cover art. But on Sept. 23, Doja shared a new photo on Instagram that she declared was the actual Vie cover.
The visual shows her suspended in an ocean-blue sky, hanging from a yellow parachute stuck in the branches of a tree. Serving face, she grips the parachute’s white ropes as she dangles in the air in an elaborate white gown.
In her Instagram caption, Doja wrote: “Falling in love is putting trust in the hands of yourself and others. The yellow parachute represents curiosity, happiness and adventure. Flying you towards new experiences and scenes, taking a leap of faith, and holding no bounds. The tree represents life and wisdom. Giving you a sense of safety within its branches, but the pain from the fall teaches you that those scratches can be healed. You don’t have to hit the ground. Love grows upward but more importantly down. It’s the roots that keep you steady.”
However, after spotting criticism, she wrote on X, “You can’t make me feel bad for a cover that has visceral meaning. The greatest armor is love and integrity. I forgive your harsh criticism but for me I won yet again for following my heart. If I was you I wouldn’t.”
She reposted an example of this criticism, with a fan writing, “i love you mother but this cover doesn’t match the aesthetic of the album 💔💔 maybe it will grow on me.” Doja responded by simply saying, “It’s the perfect cover.”
Around 2:00 pm ET, Doja shared more thoughts on the backlash during an Instagram Live stream. “I’m the boss,” she said calmly. “I make the decisions.”
While Doja noted that people disagreeing with her choices is “completely natural,” she stressed, “But to say ‘This doesn’t fit what I perceive her as…’ that’s not my problem. That’s a you problem.” She also hypothesized that “there are people who pretend to be fans” who stir discord. “It’s not about the music for them,” she said.
On Sept. 21, Doja told CBS Sunday Morning that Vie came to her as she learned to appreciate the pop appeal of her mainstream hits like “Say So,” a song she admitted that she used to dislike. “Cause Scarlet was sort of this release of energy that was very different from all of that,” Doja added of her last album. “I feel like I’m in a place where I want to do what I know.”
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