Sabrina Carpenter responds to 'Man's Best Friend' album cover backlash: 'Y'all need to get out more'
Sabrina Carpenter has responded to the controversy surrounding the cover art for her seventh studio album, Man’s Best Friend. The Espresso singer sat down with Gayle King on CBS Mornings to share her perspective on the criticism sparked by the artwork.
Sabrina Carpenter addresses controversy over her “Man’s Best Friend” album cover, explaining her artistic intent and reaction to fan criticism.
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The cover, released on June 11, depicts Carpenter on her knees at the feet of a male figure pulling her hair. Some fans questioned whether the image could simultaneously be satirical and a display of submission. One viewer’s comment, read aloud by King, argued that “it can’t also be a straightforward image of a woman being submissive just because it’s sexy.”
Carpenter dismissed the backlash, saying, “Y’all need to get out more. I think I was actually shocked because between me and my friends and my family and the people that I always share my music and my art with first, it just wasn’t even a conversation.”
The singer, who rose to fame on Disney Channel’s Girl Meets World, explained her creative intent behind the imagery. “My interpretation is being in on the control, being in on your lack of control and when you want to be in control,” Carpenter said. “As a young woman, you’re just as aware of when you’re in control as to when you’re not.”
She added that Man’s Best Friend reflects the humanity of embracing mistakes. “It’s about the humanity of allowing yourself to make those mistakes, knowing when you’re putting yourself in a situation that will probably end up poorly, but it’s going to teach you something.”
Following the backlash, Carpenter shared an alternative version of the album cover on June 25, which she captioned as “approved by God.” The revised artwork shows her standing beside a man, a notable departure from the original concept.
Carpenter’s latest release comes after the success of her 2023 album Short n’ Sweet, which helped define the sound of last summer. At the 67th Grammy Awards, she won two categories: Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Solo Performance for Espresso.
When asked about how her parents felt about the controversial cover, Carpenter revealed that they were supportive. “My parents actually saw the photo, and they loved it.”
