Sabrina Carpenter‘s new album, Man’s Best Friend, has ignited controversy over its cover art, with some fans arguing it perpetuates the “oversexualization” of women. The pop star’s latest visual choices have divided fans and sparked broader conversations about female representation in music.
Fans divided following the release of Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Man’s Best Friend’ album cover
Sabrina Carpenter has teased the release date of her new album, Man’s Best Friend, with a revelation of its cover art. The Grammy-winning star’s new album cover immediately sparked a social media discourse as fans theorized the meaning behind it.
In the Man’s Best Friend cover, Carpenter is seen kneeling on the ground in a black body-con dress and high heels. A suited individual is pulling her blonde hair as she poses towards the camera with her mouth slightly open. In another photo, a furry animal is wearing a collar with “Man’s Best Friend” written on it.
The cover art garnered over 3 million likes within half a day of its release. However, the comments indicated the divided opinion of fans. One user noted in the comment section, “These images are clearly designed for the male gaze and are not empowering.” A second netizen posted on X (formerly Twitter), “I’m so tired of this oversexualization of women. This is not feminism, and this is not empowering.”
However, some other social media users argued that the cover could be a commentary on the male gaze. An X user explained, “For those of you who may lack critical thinking skills, the cover is clearly satirical with a deeper meaning, portraying how the public views her, believing she is just for the male gaze.”
Carpenter explained in a fan letter that her new album, the successor to the 2024 release Short n’ Sweet, is not a planned release. She gushed, “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!”
The “Espresso” crooner added that making the new album was quite different. She noted, “Every inch came together so effortlessly” (via US Weekly).
Originally reported by Arpita Adhya on ComingSoon.
