Roberto Cavalli’s Digitally Altered Photo of Beyoncé Knowles Triggers Backlash [PHOTOS]

A bizarre sketch of Beyoncé Knowles Carter, released by fashion designer Roberto Cavalli, has invited sharp criticism from several quarters.

The sketch, released on Cavalli's official Facebook page, shows the R&B superstar in a stunning, multi-coloured and highly embellished silk gown. The outfit was designed exclusively for the 31-year-old pop icon and for her Mrs Carter Show world tour.

The outrage is the result of a disturbing use of computer software to represent Beyoncé as an impossibly-sized anorexic, whose arms and legs are more skeleton-like than human. Interestingly, the Facebook page also had photographs of Beyoncé, in Cavalli's gown, at the concert.

And even a cursory glance shows a world of difference between the two images.

There is no official statement from the singer or her representatives, as yet. However, this is not the first time that digitally altered images of Blue Ivy Carter's mother have caused controversy. She locked horns with clothing retail giants H&M over publicity photographs for her Summer 2013 collection.

According to the Mail Online, some of the images were altered to remove her famous curves and Beyoncé responded by forcing those images off the table. H&M complied and later released this statement: "Our purpose has always been to portray Beyoncé as the strong and beautiful woman she is. It has been a good working process and a close cooperation. Both parties are happy with the images."

Meanwhile, there have been several irate comments on Cavalli's Facebook page, such as this: "If this is supposed to be a sketch of Beyonce why not actually draw Beyonce instead of some imaginative image which fits the status quo for sickly looking run way models??"

Check out photographs of Beyoncé Knowles Carter in Roberto Cavalli's silk gown...