In Defense of Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Carpenter is labelled many things: blonde, short, a singer, and—as she self-proclaims—“sweet.” In line with the persona, her songs feature comical, often risqué lyrics Now, she’s facing backlash over her latest studio album cover, Man’s Best Friend. When Sabrina posted the cover art on June 11th, the internet's reaction was harsh and immediate. The cover shows Carpenter in a lacy black dress on her knee, while she stares into the camera as her hair is pulled by an anonymous man. Conservatives shrieked, feminists declared Carpenter “problematic”, and spectators pounded their fists on TikTok demanding retribution.

I’ve bit my tongue watching this unfold for the last few weeks, and questioned if I—a man—should even join this conversation. I’ve decided to offer my two cents: there’s no right or wrong answer. To one extent, “culture is a form of authority.” While Sabrina Carpenter is attempting to make a statement about feminism and challenge our notion of reclamation—especially as it pertains to sex and gender—she is still creating a piece of artwork that caters to the male gaze. Her hair is matted in a man’s fist towering over her, and it’s unclear, when looking at the album cover on its own, whether she finds fulfillment or discomfort in this submissive position. 

At the same time, we have not heard the music. It’s premature to voice criticism with an entire body of work without even exploring its internal body. If we were to examine the album cover in line with the work’s lead single, “Manchild,” Sabrina’s vision becomes more clear. The song openly mocks male immaturity, and through this context, it makes sense why diehard Sabrina Carpenter fans are claiming the cover to be satirical, ironic, and liberating. 

The internet loves to take an absolutist response to anything and everything, but in this case, nuance matters. Sabrina Carpenter’s entire M.O is satire. In “Feather,” off her last (and best) album, emails I can’t send, Carpenter insinuates the prevalence of men in women’s lives as a burden. “Manchild” is an even more pertinent example. Carpenter is also not attempting to glamorize men and their need to subjugate women. While some may argue she missed the mark with this album cover, there’s nothing malicious about her artistic choice. She’s simply provoking a conversation. 

I also want to end my monologue by drawing attention to the fact there’s still a double standard here. Why does Sabrina have to cater her image within the confines of what others consider ‘appropriate?’ Art is supposed to make you feel something, and this includes discomfort. Before you jump the gun and try to burn her at the stake chanting “witch”, it’s okay to acknowledge your qualms, but I urge you to remember two things: One, you have not heard the album yet. And two, ask yourself–is it your self-righteous job to police the actions of others, or is it easier to shame this body of work, rather than engage with it?

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