Melanie Martinez is a singer who is very common among Gen z, recently, there is a controversy regarding a coloring book she released.
Pop star and influencer Melanie Martinez is best known for her hit songs such as “Cry Baby,” “Dollhouse,” and others. But over the years, she has been the subject of multiple disturbing allegations. Article continues below advertisement. Those allegations have been cast in a more sinister light after the star released the Cry Baby Coloring Book, filled with images that many have suggested glamorize and promote CSAM. The internet has reacted strongly to the 2016 coloring book, placing the singer under the microscope as they analyze the images and their impact. Here’s what we know about Melanie’s coloring book controversy, the allegations against her, and the internet’s reaction.
But the controversy kicked into overdrive in 2025 with a resurgence of attention to the coloring book, which was designed by Melanie. In the book, several images have drawn pushback from critics who feel as though she is glorifying CSAM and catering her imagery to pedophiles.
In one image, a child in a bathtub looks up with soap in her mouth. While this references, one of Melanie’s songs, the imagery can be considered disturbing. In another image, a wolf holds the book character under an arm.
The images in question:
Internet expresses a mixture of horror and defense over the controversy.
Many have suggested that an ice cream cone, held by the wolf, is held in such a way that it is suggestive of intended sexual assault against the child.
On TikTok, multiple videos are taking a closer look at the images and questioning why Melanie felt that it was appropriate imagery to portray in a coloring book. While it’s clearly not a coloring book marketed to children, the ever-present question that users keep asking: Why did she feel the images were necessary?
Some people have accused Melanie of tailoring the images to cater to pedophiles and promote CSAM. In one video on TikTok, a user comments, “Of course it wasn’t advertised to kids. Kids aren’t into CSAM, adults are.” Another responds, “It’s still not OK to show children depicted in a sexual light like the bathtub and ice cream.”
One user writes, “Wolf with ice cream cone is the worst I think.” Another user responded to them, clarifying that the wolf imagery may be a reference to the song “Tag You’re It” by Melanie which describes kidnapping.
Basically: They are accusing her of promoting CSAM because of the coloring’s book drawings that are based on her album covers.
The original album covers in question:
