Sabrina Carpenter has shut down claims that her W Magazine photoshoot was inspired by the controversial movie Lolita. The singer responded to online backlash after fans noticed similarities between her grassy field pose and a scene from the 1997 film.
The debate started when Sabrina shared the cover art for her upcoming album Man’s Best Friend. The image shows her on all fours while a man holds her hair. Some fans then revisited her September 2024 W Magazine shoot, where she posed lying on grass in a pale yellow dress, drenched by sprinklers. Many compared it to a scene from Lolita, where the young character Dolores Haze is shown in a similar setting.
Sabrina Carpenter shuts down claims that she was inspired by ‘Lolita’ for her W Magazine photoshoot:
“i’ve never seen this movie. it’s never been on my mood board and never would be” pic.twitter.com/3LXuO79rbe
Sabrina quickly denied any connection. In a comment under a TikTok video discussing the photoshoot, she wrote:
“i’ve never seen this movie. it’s never been on my mood board and never would be.”
The 1997 Lolita film, based on Vladimir Nabokov’s 1955 novel, follows a middle-aged man’s obsession with a 12-year-old girl. The story has long been criticized for its disturbing themes, though some adaptations have been accused of glamorizing the subject matter.
Fans remain divided. Some insist the resemblance is too strong to ignore, while others argue it’s just a coincidence.
“Can Sabrina literally stop referencing the Lolita movie? It’s not even a coincidence anymore,” one user tweeted.
“A girl takes a picture lying in the grass, and people immediately jump to the worst conclusions possible,” another defended.
This isn’t the first time Sabrina has faced criticism over her image. Her album cover and performances have sparked debates about hypersexualization. During her Short n’ Sweet Tour, she mimicked a s*x position on stage, which some fans called empowering and others found inappropriate.
In a June interview with Rolling Stone, Sabrina addressed the backlash:
“It’s always so funny to me when people complain. They’re like, ‘All she does is sing about this.’ But those are the songs that you’ve made popular. Clearly you love sx. You’re obsessed with it.”*
Despite the controversies, her music continues to succeed. Her single Manchild debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking her first chart-topping hit. The album Man’s Best Friend is set to release on August 29, 2025.
Some critics argue that even if Sabrina didn’t intend the Lolita reference, her styling often plays into youthful, flirtatious aesthetics that overlap with the novel’s problematic legacy. Others believe the comparisons are unfair.
“Let’s stop assigning meaning where there isn’t any. She’s allowed to just exist in her vibe,” a fan tweeted.
The discussion highlights broader debates about how female pop stars navigate sexuality in their work. Sabrina’s case echoes past controversies around artists like Britney Spears and Lana Del Rey, who also faced scrutiny for blending innocence with adult themes.
Photographer Zoë Ghertner, who shot the W Magazine spread, is known for natural, feminine visuals. The sprinkler image was one of several in the editorial, but it’s the one that went viral.
Sabrina’s team has not commented further, but her direct response suggests she wants to distance herself from the Lolita comparisons. Still, the debate continues online, with some fans analyzing her past photoshoots for similar themes.
Her supporters emphasize that she has creative control over her work. In a Variety interview, she called Short n’ Sweet her “sophomore album” because it was the first where she had full artistic freedom.
The backlash hasn’t hurt her success. With a Netflix holiday special and a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, Sabrina remains one of pop’s biggest rising stars.
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