Olivia Rodrigo and Courtney Love’s Cover Image Controversy
collage by Mikayla Alpert
Pop songstress Olivia Rodrigo released her debut album, Sour on May 21 which rose to critical acclaim. The promotional image features Rodrigo crying with streaky mascara, holding a bouquet of flowers, wearing a prom gown while adorned with a sparkly tiara. Sour’s release stirred controversy with Courtney Love because of how similar the covers were and accused Rodrigo of ripping off Hole’s 1994 Live Through This album art without permission or notice.
Hole’s album cover features a close-up shot of model Leilani Bishop with mascara running down her cheeks while wearing a crown and holding a bouquet of flowers.
Rodrigo originally shared the image to promote an upcoming concert film for “Sour Prom” set to stream on YouTube starting June 29.
"Since I never got to go to prom, I wanted to throw a little prom party with my fav ppl (you guys obvs)," Rodrigo wrote on Twitter and Instagram.
Love posted Rodrigo’s cover resembling the Hole album on Instagram with a playful caption, tagging the star: “Spot the difference! #twinning! @oliviarodrigo 😉👸👸” Rodrigo then commented with “love you and live through this sooooo much.” Love responded again: “Olivia—you’re welcome… My favorite florist is in Notting Hill, London! Dm me for deets! I look forward to reading your note!”
Fans of Love and Rodrigo raised polarized comments that showed solidarity with their artist of choice. Some said that Love is the original icon and can’t be outdone by someone new in the music industry and how iconic the image is.
Some fans claimed that both should pay credit to Stephen King’s horror film Carrie. A prom queen crying isn’t an original concept and Love should be a mentor to new artists. Others in the comments brought up that all art is a homage to other people’s art, or that Love did not invent a sad prom queen or prom.
Love continued her rant onto Facebook saying it was rude of Rodrigo not to at least ask her or the photographer, but she also claims that she’s used to it by now: “It’s happened my whole career so I d c. But manners are manners!”
She also added: “Stealing an original idea and not asking permission is rude. There’s no way to be elegant about it. I’m not angry. It happens all the time to me… But this was bad form. That’s not bullying or bomb throwing. This person’s music has nothing to do with my life. Possibly never will. It was rude and I gave every right to stick up for my work. Don’t gatekeep me! I’m honorable as fuck to my fellow artists, and I expect the same.”
And this comment: “It’s on GEFFEN [Rodrigo’s label]. I’ve informed her I await her flowers and [sic] note. I sure hope it’s long. Does Disney teach kids reading and writing? God knows. Let’s see. Yes this is rude. Rage inducing ? Honey if I had a dollar for everyone this happens? I’d be real rich!”
Rodrigo has not commented since saying that she loves Live Through This.
Despite the similarities, the pictures show different poses, different facial expressions. Just because both feature a tiara and flowers doesn’t mean it is stealing an artist’s vision. Rodrigo has claimed that she enjoys incorporating themes from horror films into her work and music videos. Carrie and Jennifer’s Body serve as major inspirations in the “Good 4 U'' music video.