Aiko’s cover art captures a sense of peace and self-discovery with its beautiful depiction of a woman floating toward a beam of sunshine. The same image on Ariana’s new cover has a darker twist, which makes people question whether there is a deeper link between the two or whether the idea was just lifted for another artist’s work.

A fan wrote, “Don’t get me wrong, I love both of their music, but like this is wildly similar.” Another added, “Is it homage or appropriation?” Many others appeared to struggle to ignore the stark similarities between the two pieces, wondering if Ariana’s album was blatantly plagiarized. However, some supported Ariana, stating that the 2004 film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which is about regaining happiness after heartbreak, may have served as the inspiration for both images.  A fan wrote, “Both visuals were inspired by Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which is about finding happiness after forgetting a heartbreak. Jhene did it first, but since the idea wasn’t original, Ariana has the same right to use it too.”

Other artists agreed that Aiko wasn’t the only one with the notion, noting that various artists have interpreted it differently over time. Despite the back and forth, some people were annoyed by the pop culture repeating motif. A fan wrote, “Sooo bored of this. Did we as a society run out of creativity or what?”

Whatever the case, Ariana’s Eternal Sunshine Deluxe is certain to carry on her musical glory. Ariana’s career is obviously booming, as evidenced by her recent Oscar nomination for Wicked (2024) and her several Grammy nods for the original Eternal Sunshine record. Although her loyal fans are eagerly awaiting the album’s release, the controversy surrounding its cover will surely continue to be discussed in the run-up to its release.