Sabrina Carpenter addressed the controversy surrounding her seventh album, Man’s Best Friend, released the same day. The album’s provocative cover, announced in June, sparked heated debate, with critics such as Glasgow Women’s Aid and The Telegraph labelling it “regressive” and “degrading.” Carpenter, known for her bold and sex-positive style, fired back, urging detractors to “get out more.”
The Man’s Best Friend cover, featuring Carpenter on her hands and knees with a man holding her hair, drew sharp criticism. Glasgow Women’s Aid labelled it “regressive,” arguing it promotes “tired tropes” that reduce women to “pets, props, and possessions” with an “element of violence and control.” Similarly, The Telegraph’s Poppie Platt criticised it as “over-sexed” and linked it to the “trad-wife” trend, which emphasises traditional gender roles. In response, Carpenter unveiled an alternate cover in July, jokingly calling it “approved by God,” which depicted her in a formal gown.
My new album, “Man’s Best Friend” 🐾
is out on August 29, 2025.
i can’t wait for it to be yours x
Pre-order now: https://t.co/E7QJWhYV2D pic.twitter.com/UXVLzBQTj4
— Sabrina Carpenter (@SabrinaAnnLynn) June 11, 2025Carpenter addressed the backlash in a June Rolling Stone cover story, stating, “It’s so funny when people complain.” She noted that her sexually charged performances, like mimicking sex positions during “Juno” on her Short n’ Sweet tour, are fan favourites, saying, “Clearly you love sex. You’re obsessed with it.” She defended her artistic choices, emphasising that her music, including Man’s Best Friend, reflects her humour and sex positivity, not submission. Fans echoed this on social media, arguing the cover satirises misogyny, with one X post gaining 44,000 likes for calling it “obviously a commentary.”
Carpenter’s Album Details and Reception
Man’s Best Friend, released on August 29, 2025, follows Carpenter’s Grammy-winning Short n’ Sweet (2024). Co-written and produced with Jack Antonoff, known for work with Taylor Swift, the album features the lead single “Manchild” and a new single, “Tears,” with a music video starring Colman Domingo in drag. Critics have praised the album, with The Guardian giving it four stars for its “stunning craft” and Variety calling it “one of the year’s best pop records” and “the funniest.”
TEARS VIDEO OUT NOW!!💧
starring the truly incomparable, magnetic, and fantastic Colman Domingo! @colmandomingo
wish we were still dancing in the street at 4am x https://t.co/gzIOBVob0u
directed by @bardiazeinali
shot by: Sean Price Williams pic.twitter.com/VPmv4clCb2
— Sabrina Carpenter (@SabrinaAnnLynn) August 29, 2025Carpenter, 26, has built a reputation for bold performances, including sexual innuendos in her Nonsense outros and provocative Short n’ Sweet tour choreography. Her fanbase, largely young women, has propelled her to 1.5 billion Spotify streams in 2024, per Billboard. However, critics like Platt argue her content may be unsuitable for her younger fans, sparking debate about her influence.
The backlash highlights tensions over artistic expression and gender representation. Carpenter’s defenders see her cover as satire, while critics view it as reinforcing harmful stereotypes. Her response, urging critics to “get out more,” reinforces her unapologetic stance. The album’s strong reviews suggest that her fan base remains loyal, potentially boosting her career further.
