Sabrina Carpenter has spoken out over the backlash concerning her racy new album, Man’s Best Friend, after some fans blasted the cover as ‘disturbing’.
The Espresso singer, 26, sent us all into meltdown when she dropped new single Manchild, with many convinced that the lyrics refer to her relationship with ex-boyfriend Barry Keoghan.
The 26-year-old later announced that her next offering – a follow-up to Short N’ Sweet – will be released on August 29, and unveiled the artwork imagery on Instagram last week.
In the pictures, the Grammy-winner was seen posing on her knees in a black minidress and heels, holding her hand up to a man’s trouser leg, as he stood over her and gripped a fistful of her hair.
A second picture included a zoomed-in photo of a dog wearing a tag adorned with ‘Man’s Best Friend’.
Although followers were delighted at the prospect of new music from Sabrina, her accompanying photoshoot left them divided – with many branding the images ‘uncomfortable’, while others argued that the whole thing was satire.
Sabrina took matters into her own hands and hit back at the criticism on social media, after a Twitter user questioned whether she has ‘a personality outside of sex’.
Without skipping a beat, she quoted the post to add: ‘Girl yes and it is goooooood.’
In a timely interview with Rolling Stone, which was released shortly after the artwork made waves online, she addressed suggestions that her lyrics are too sexualized.
‘It’s always so funny to me when people complain,’ she told the outlet of criticisms about her image, ‘They’re like, “All she does is sing about this.” But those are the songs that you’ve made popular. Clearly you love sex. You’re obsessed with it.
‘It’s in my show. There’s so many more moments than the Juno positions, but those are the ones you post every night and comment on. I can’t control that. If you come to the show, you’ll [also] hear the ballads, you’ll hear the more introspective numbers.
‘I find irony and humor in all of that, because it seems to be a recurring theme. I’m not upset about it, other than I feel mad pressure to be funny sometimes.’
‘I don’t want to be pessimistic, but I truly feel like I’ve never lived in a time where women have been picked apart more, and scrutinized in every capacity. I’m not just talking about me. I’m talking about every female artist that is making art right now,’ she added.
‘We’re in such a weird time where you would think it’s girl power, and women supporting women, but in reality, the second you see a picture of someone wearing a dress on a carpet, you have to say everything mean about it in the first 30 seconds that you see it.’
Sabrina’s comments come after social media users in their droves made their feelings known about the Man’s Best Friend cover, describing it as ‘disturbing’, and begging the Please Please Please star to ‘get up’.
Below the announcement on Instagram, Edersoaresx penned: ‘Lol this cover art is so disgusting. As a fan I don’t like it :(.’
Carehanapov said: ‘I dont wanna see no man dragging you around by your hair mother please get up [sic].’
‘Does anybody else find this cover really disturbing?,’ xxfrecklesandfairies questioned.
In a discussion over on Reddit, Adorable_Slide_921 simply complained: ‘Ooooh boy do I hate this!’
‘The first image is very triggering for me. I hate this. A LOT,’ Potential-Friend-133 agreed.
Wise_Reporter_6802 posted: ‘What the hell is that cover? I love Sabrina’s music and I’ve been supporting her since 2017 but this is terrible.’
Lily4ever replied: ‘The cover is making me uncomfortable.’
As L3tigre added: ‘The visceral reaction I just got from this. It’s a no.’
Passionate fans also argued that the album cover was making a satirical point.
Speaking to fans about her upcoming music, Sabrina previously said: ‘I didn’t plan on releasing a new record however when inspiration strikes, I go to the studio, and when it doesn’t, I still go to the studio.
‘But luckily life was really happening to me and inspiration struck! I tried not to overthink the process this time.
‘I felt so at ease making Man’s Best Friend that I felt like it was a gift that shouldn’t be taken for granted as every inch came together so effortlessly, different from my other previous projects where I’d bang my head to crack numerous codes.
‘This one felt like riding a bike! I went back to some of my favorite artists growing up listening to a lot of Stevie, Dolly, Donna etc and was surprised to find so many of those artists I loved put out a new record every year for a long time.
‘Can’t say that is or will be the norm for me, but this time it really eased my mind about putting something out when it feels right!’
Sabrina has been booked and busy over the last few months, jetting around the world on her tour – with stops in London, Dublin, Manchester and Paris.
She also performed at Primavera in Barcelona for the first time earlier this month, joining Chappell Roan and Charli XCX on the line-up.
She will next be performing across two dates at Hyde Park’s British Summer Time festival (BST) in July, before brining her run of dates to the US.
This article was first published on June 11.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
