Coined music’s next superstars, Rolling Stone’s second annual Women Shaping the Future issue features SZA, Normani, and Megan Thee Stallion, on the cover. The image, shot by Campbell Addy, shows the three stars clad in leather and looking fierce. The trio has sparked a frenzy on social media with fans obsessing over the cover, but it was quickly noticed that SZA was the only one of the three artists featured that did not post the cover image. 

For musicians who break the barrier and become celebrities, what is expected of them from the public often becomes more and more demanding. Fans want quick turnaround time and a steady stream of new music as well as tours, interviews, photos, and merch, putting a lot of pressure on an artist and can often leave them overworked. Creating boundaries for herself and hinting that her anxiety is the reasoning behind her decision, SZA tweeted that she is “not doing interviews for the rest of my life,” and will no longer take part in video interviews or photoshoots. After speculation that the artist was unhappy with the cover, she tweeted a follow up adding, “S/o Normani and meg tho. My sisters who I love very much and respect deeply . Honored to be apart of ANYTHING w the two of those BLACK QUEENS.”