Sabrina Carpenter revealed she worked with five different men to create the various cover images for her new album “Man’s Best Friend.” The singer explained this choice during a recent interview, highlighting her creative vision behind the controversial artwork. The original cover, which showed Carpenter on her knees while a suited man grabs her hair, sparked intense debate online. Some critics called it regressive, while fans defended it as satire. Carpenter later released alternative covers, including one she jokingly said was “approved by God.”
The album, released on August 29, 2025, is Carpenter’s seventh studio record. It follows her Grammy-winning album “Short n’ Sweet” from 2024. “Man’s Best Friend” features twelve songs, including the hit singles “Manchild” and “Tears.” Carpenter collaborated with producer Jack Antonoff on the project. The album has received generally positive reviews from music critics.
Carpenter Explains Her Creative Choices
In an interview with Mel Ottenberg for Interview magazine, Sabrina Carpenter discussed the thought process behind the album’s imagery. She stated she does not create art based on how people might react. Instead, she focuses on what feels right and makes sense with the music.
“You can be sure that anything I do and say has a little bit of a wink to it,” Carpenter said. “If I’m being completely transparent, I don’t do anything anticipating what the reaction will be. I only do things that speak to me, that feel right, and make sense when you hear the music.”
She described the album’s themes as exploring loss, heartbreak, celebration, and navigating life as a young woman. Carpenter also addressed the interpretation of the original cover, which many saw as submissive. She argued that submission can be both dominant and submissive, depending on a person’s intentions and needs.
“Submission is both dominant and submissive,” Carpenter explained. “It really depends on what your intentions are and what you want, and what you crave, and what you need. The image, the way I see it, is a metaphor.”
The Original Cover Sparks Global Debate
When the original cover was revealed in June 2025, it immediately caused a strong reaction on social media. The image depicts Carpenter on her hands and knees in a black mini dress. A faceless man in a suit is holding a fistful of her hair.
The charity Glasgow Women’s Aid criticized the artwork. They said it was “regressive” and promoted “tired tropes that reduce women to pets, props, and possessions.” They also said it promoted an element of violence and control . Writer Poppie Platt called the cover “over-sexed” and “degrading” in a column for The Telegraph .
However, many fans and some media outlets defended the cover. They saw it as a form of satire and a challenge to misogynistic expectations. Culture critic Lucy Ford told the BBC that Carpenter is “in on the joke” when she performs . Professor Catherine Rottenberg noted that the controversy likely helped promote the album .
Carpenter Releases Alternate Covers
In response to the backlash, Sabrina Carpenter released several alternate covers for the album. On June 25, she shared a black-and-white image on Instagram. It showed her standing next to a man in a suit, holding his arm. She joked that this new cover was “approved by God” .
Fellow pop star Katy Perry commented on the post with laughter . Some observers thought this image referenced a famous photo of Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller .
Carpenter later unveiled two more alternate covers. One featured her lounging in a room filled with flowers . The final alternate cover, revealed on August 8, showed her hosting a dinner party in a blue gown while surrounded by five men in tuxedos . This cover came with an exclusive bonus track called “Such a Funny Way” on vinyl .
The Album’s Content and Critical Reception
“Man’s Best Friend” is a pop album with elements of disco, funk, and country influences. Carpenter worked with producers Jack Antonoff and John Ryan. The album’s lyrics are known for their humor and sexual innuendos.
Songs like “House Tour” and “Tears” continue Carpenter’s trend of risqué and playful music. In “Tears,” she sings about being turned on by a partner who acts responsibly . The album also touches on themes of heartbreak, likely referencing her past relationship with actor Barry Keoghan .
Music critics gave the album mixed but generally positive reviews. Metacritic assigned it a score of 74 out of 100, indicating “generally favorable reviews” . Some critics felt the songwriting lacked depth, but most praised the production and Carpenter’s signature style .
A History of Provocative Performances
This is not the first time Sabrina Carpenter has sparked controversy with her art. Her performances often include sexual innuendos and provocative choreography. During her “Short n’ Sweet” tour, she mimicked a different sex position each night while performing the song “Juno” .
Her performance at the 2025 Brit Awards also received complaints. Media watchdog Ofcom received 825 complaints about her pre-watershed performance, which featured revealing clothing and suggestive dancing with a backup dancer .
Carpenter has consistently defended her work. She told Rolling Stone that people who complain about her sexual performances are the ones who are obsessed with sex . In her interview with Gayle King, she said the new album is “not for any pearl clutchers” .
The Internet Reacts to the Five Men Revelation
The news that Carpenter used five different men for the cover shoots added a new layer to the online discussion. Fans and critics took to social media to share their thoughts. Some praised her for making a creative statement about dehumanization and control.
“There’s a deeper meaning, portraying how the public views her, believing she is just for the male gaze,” one fan wrote on X .
Others remained critical. Heather Binning of the Women’s Rights Network told the BBC that violence against women should “never be used as satire” . She expressed concern that the imagery could groom young girls to believe that submitting to men’s desires is normal and fun.
The release of the final cover, featuring Carpenter in control of five men, was seen by many as a direct response to her critics. It visually flipped the narrative of the original cover, showing her in a position of power.
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Credits: Forbes
