"The reaction is fascinating to me": Sabrina Carpenter explains why NSFW themes in her songs aren't taboo

Sabrina Carpenter is no stranger to sparking conversation, and she’s leaning into that space with her latest project.

In a candid conversation with Interview, published on Sept. 2, the Grammy winner reflected on how she handles reactions to her provocative music and visuals, and revealed why she believes those choices are worth making.

Discussing the album art for Man’s Best Friend, released in late August, Sabrina Carpenter admitted she anticipated people might have strong opinions. The cover image features her posed on all fours while a man grips her hair, a portrait that ignited immediate internet debates.

"When I came up with the imaging for it, it was so clear to me what it meant."

She went on to add:

“So the reaction is fascinating to me. You just watch it unravel and go, ‘Wow.’”

The responses were split: some hailed the cover as empowering, while others deemed it degrading.

The "Espresso" hitmaker doesn’t dismiss the criticism but instead highlights the complexity. She emphasized that her choices reflect personal experiences and layers of meaning, saying:

“There’s a lot of nuance."

She added:

“I felt like, ‘Why is this taboo?’ This is something that women experience in such a real way, becoming comfortable with themselves and who they are. There’s so many reasons why I called it 'Man’s Best Friend' and there’s so many layers in the experiences that I was going through at the time where, emotionally, I felt like one."

Sabrina Carpenter continued, expressing his gratitude to her listeners:

"I’m really, really grateful that there’s enough of my audience that really knows me as a person that will be able to hear these songs how they’re intended.”

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"Not for any pearl clutchers": Sabrina Carpenter addresses Man’s Best Friend criticism

Meanwhile, this isn’t the first time Sabrina Carpenter has publicly addressed criticism over her approach to songwriting.

On release day for Man’s Best Friend, the pop star told CBS Mornings that not every listener is meant to connect with her work.

“The album is not for any pearl clutchers."

Still, she went on:

"But I also think that even pearl clutchers can listen to an album like that in their own solitude and find something that makes them smirk and chuckle to themselves.”

The "Manchild" singer reflected on the many young women she sees in the front row during her shows, screaming at the top of their lungs.

“You can go like, ‘Oh, we can all sigh [in] relief like, ‘This is just fun.’ And that’s all it has to be.”

While her lyrics often place her at the center of cultural debate, her fanbase continues to grow, signaling a shift in pop music where taboo themes are less likely to be hidden in subtext.

Looking ahead, Sabrina Carpenter is preparing to bring that same energy to the stage. After a summer run through Europe, her Short n’ Sweet Tour resumes in North America this fall.

The second leg kicks off Oct. 23 in Pittsburgh, before heading into a string of high-profile shows, including five nights at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.