Sabrina Carpenter, arguably the queen of controversy and bold statements in this new age, has once again found herself amidst heated debate. Her cover art for her upcoming album, Man’s Best Friend, has garnered a lot of attention online and has received a lot of backlash.
The image, showing Carpenter on all fours with someone pulling her hair, has ignited fierce debates online about feminism, satire, and whether pop culture is empowering or degrading women.
New Sabrina Carpenter Album Cover Goes Viral
While fans hailed the photo as bold and artistic, others criticised it as playing into misogynistic stereotypes. The image drew so much attention that it even sparked a conversation on The View, with hosts questioning if it sent “the wrong message.”
Online reactions have been polarising with some praising Sabrina for being herself and unashamed while others are criticizing and trolling her for encouraging what they belive to be domestic abuse. One viral TikTok post, with over 2.4 million views, slammed the image, calling it “spineless, f—— nothing art,” arguing it relies on recycled ideas masked as empowerment.
Sex, Satire, or Subversion?
Carpenter, 26, has embraced sexual themes in her music before, often mixing humor and heartbreak. Her lead single Manchild, includes the lyric: “I like all my men incompetent,” a clear shot at modern masculinity. On stage, she mimics sex acts during songs like “Bed Chem” and “Juno,” adding to the firestorm of criticism.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Carpenter said, “I truly feel like I’ve never lived in a time where women have been picked apart more.” She added, “It’s always so funny to me when people complain… but those are the songs that you’ve made popular. Clearly, you love sex. You’re obsessed with it.”
Experts like Professor Perry B. Johnson say such backlash is common for former child stars trying to redefine themselves. “It’s a natural progression,” Johnson said, adding that artists like Carpenter face even harsher judgment because of their past.
Despite the controversy, Carpenter’s Manchild has already topped the Billboard Hot 100, suggesting that whatever the public thinks, she’s winning in the charts.
