Courtney Love Accuses Olivia Rodrigo of “Stealing” Hole Album Cover Concept

    Olivia Rodrigo announced her upcoming Sour Prom Concert Film with new promotional photos showing her wearing a prom dress and tiara while holding a bouquet of flowers with tears streaming down her face. On Thursday (June 24), Courtney Love posted the artwork on Instagram with the caption “Spot the Difference! #twinning,” noting its similarities to the cover artwork for Hole’s 1994 album Live Through This. (As Stereogum points out, a viral Twitter thread had previously accused Rodrigo of copying her visual aesthetic from Mia Berrin’s project Pom Pom Squad.)

    Rodrigo herself acknowledged the similarities in her comment, writing, “love u and live through this sooooo much.” Love responded: “Olivia – you’re welcome. My favorite florist is in Notting Hill, London! Dm me for deets! I look forward to reading your note!”

    Love also posted the photo on Facebook, where she responded to fans in the comments over the weekend, offering more of her thoughts on Rodrigo’s artwork. “it was rude of her, and [Rodrigo’s label] geffen not to ask myself or [Live Through This cover photographer] Ellen von unwerth,” Love wrote. “It’s happened my whole career so I d c. But manners is manners!”

    In another reply, she 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 persons 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.”

    “I’ve informed her I await her flowers and note,” Love wrote in another comment thread. “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!”

    Konstantinos Pappis
    Konstantinos Pappis
    Konstantinos Pappis is a writer, journalist, and music editor at Our Culture. His work has also appeared in Pitchfork, GIGsoup, and other publications. He currently lives in Athens, Greece.

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