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Sabrina Carpenter has never been afraid to push buttons, and she says that’s exactly the point. In a new Interview magazine feature (Sept. 2), the pop star talked about why she leans into sexual and “taboo” themes in her music and visuals — including her Man’s Best Friend album cover that sparked plenty of conversation this summer.
The cover, which shows Sabrina on all fours with a man pulling her hair, left some fans calling it empowering and others calling it degrading. Sabrina says the controversy didn’t surprise her. “When I came up with the imaging for it, it was so clear to me what it meant. Watching the reaction unravel was fascinating,” she explained.
For her, the imagery and the lyrics go hand in hand. “Why is this taboo?” she asked. “This is something women experience in such a real way — becoming comfortable with themselves and who they are. There are layers to why I called it Man’s Best Friend, and I’m grateful my audience knows me well enough to understand what these songs really mean.”
It’s not the first time she’s addressed criticism about her bolder lyrics. After the success of Short n’ Sweet in 2024, some listeners complained about the NSFW nature of songs like “Juno” and “Bed Chem.” But Sabrina says the music isn’t for people who want to clutch pearls. In her words: “At a concert, I see young women screaming these songs with their best friends and realize — it’s fun. That’s all it has to be.”
Now, with Man’s Best Friend out and the debate still swirling, Carpenter is gearing up to resume her Short n’ Sweet Tour. After her European run this summer, she’ll relaunch in Pittsburgh on Oct. 23 before playing five shows at Madison Square Garden.
SOURCE: Billboard