Doja Cat has hit back at the “harsh criticism” of her Vie album cover.
The Paint The Town Red hitmaker is gearing up to drop the LP on Friday (26.09.25), and some fans were left disappointed in the choice of a photograph of the artist hanging from a parachute stuck in a tree.
Debuting the image on Instagram, 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. This is the cover of my album.”
The 29-year-old singer-and-rapper refuses to let anyone make her “feel bad” for a cover with deep meaning behind it.
Reacting to the critics of the cover on X, Doja penned: “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.”
One user commented back: “Visceral meaning? Sis it looks like Clipart 2007. (sic)”
However, others have stood up for Doja, with one writing: “You’re an artist. Real artists commit to their artistic vision. Everyone isn’t gonna like everything and that’s okay. Glad to see artists acting like artists again. Can’t wait for the album and tour.”
Doja previously revealed that Vie is a “pop-driven project”.
She told V magazine: “I do want to be self-aware enough to admit the fact that this is a pop-driven project. I know that I can make pop music, and pop is just that it’s popular.
“It starts to become a bit of a thing that’s viewed as a sport by people who are just bystanders to it, who enjoy it, but maybe also don’t respect it or what it is, which is just music … They see it as if this is some kind of football for girls and gays.”
The Say So hitmaker also admitted she has been “surprised” by her vocal ability of late, insisting she “could not sing” before.
She added: “Sometimes I’m surprised by what I can do now, because I could not f****** sing.
“I have a lot more knowledge of how to use my voice as an instrument, more than I ever have in my life.”