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Sabrina Carpenter has spoken out against criticism of her provocative new album cover, brushing off the backlash as the outrage of an older generation.
The 25-year-old singer released her latest album Man’s Best Friend last week, with artwork that immediately sparked debate online and in the press. The controversial cover shows Sabrina kneeling while a man grips her hair, an image that some critics and campaigners argue crosses the line from edgy to regressive.
Women’s Aid, a leading domestic abuse charity, condemned the cover, saying it “isn’t edgy, it’s regressive” and warning that such imagery risks normalising harmful power dynamics. Despite this, Carpenter appears unfazed by the reaction and insists that her work is being misunderstood.
Speaking in a recent interview, she said: “It’s a generation that has either young children or they’ve raised children and they’re just sort of looking at it from a different point in life, sort of scolding. And they all had sex many times because they popped a lot of kids out.”
She added: “I just think about that and I’m always just like, it’s so funny. I mean, we’re all just so judgmental. It’s like them saying, ‘You’re not allowed to have sex but we are.’”
Sabrina Carpenter has hit back at criticism of her provocative album cover, which features her smoking while wearing a dress made from Marlboro cigarette packets in a shoot for Interview Magazine - Credit: Brianna Capozzi/Interview Magazine
The remarks have divided fans and critics alike. Supporters argue that the singer is reclaiming her sexuality and artistic freedom, using bold imagery to challenge outdated ideas of what young women in pop should look like. Detractors, however, suggest that such visuals risk alienating parts of her fanbase while sending confusing messages about empowerment.
Carpenter, who has steadily risen from Disney Channel star to one of pop’s most talked-about names, is no stranger to the spotlight. Over the past two years, she has become a chart fixture with hits such as Espresso and Feather, cementing herself as a Gen Z pop icon with a playful, tongue-in-cheek approach to performance.
Her new record, Man’s Best Friend, has already made a major impact. Early sales indicate it is set to hit No. 1 on the UK charts this week, while three of its singles are predicted to enter the Top Ten. Industry insiders say Carpenter’s boldness, both in sound and in visuals, is part of what’s driving her global momentum.
This isn’t the first time a pop star has clashed with critics over provocative album imagery. Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Miley Cyrus have all faced similar controversies, often leaning into backlash as part of their brand. Sabrina’s confident dismissal of criticism suggests she is more than ready to join that lineage.
The Man’s Best Friend album cover has sparked widespread criticism - Credit: AP
Whether fans view the cover as empowering or problematic, it has certainly achieved one key goal: keeping Sabrina Carpenter at the centre of the cultural conversation. With her career currently at its peak and her new album making waves, the singer seems determined to keep pushing boundaries, no matter who she offends along the way.
