Sabrina Carpenter faces backlash over provocative album cover for 'Man's Best Friend'

Pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter has found herself at the centre of a heated controversy following the release of her provocative album cover for her upcoming project, “Man’s Best Friend”.

The Grammy-winning artist unveiled the cover and announced the album’s release date through social media on Wednesday, June 11, much to the dismay of a segment of her fanbase. 

In her post, Carpenter, now 26, communicated her excitement: “My new album, 'Man's Best Friend' (paw emoji) is out on August 29, 2025. I can't wait for it to be yours." 

However, it was the accompanying image that set social media ablaze.

The photograph depicts Carpenter in a black dress and high heels, kneeling on the ground in a dog-like pose, while an unidentified individual stands nearby, pulling her by the hair.

The image drew immediate criticism, prompting fans to label it as catering to the "male gaze" and lacking in female empowerment. 

Fans voiced their concerns, with one individual commenting, “Gonna be that person and say she’s not beating the ‘catering to the male gaze’ allegations. What are we doing here?”

Another user added, “If it were for the female gaze, she would be in the power suit having shirtless men on dog leashes or she would have a dude on his knees in front of her, this is for men only.”

Responses from the fan community varied from disappointment to genuine concern over the image's empowerment message.

A third user shared their discomfort, stating, “I think it's a mistake since most of her fans are women, and as a domestic violence survivor I find it uncomfortable and I'd rather see her empowered than like that.” 

As the backlash brewed, Carpenter has remained silent on the criticisms but has continued to promote her album across her social media pages.

Discussing her new music, she remarked, “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. Luckily life was happening to me, and inspiration struck!”

Carpenter expressed a sense of ease during the creation of “Man’s Best Friend”, describing the process as more fluid compared to her previous projects, likening it to “riding a bike”.

This album marks her seventh studio effort, following the success of her 2024 breakout album, “Short n' Sweet”. That project soared to number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, featuring hits like “Espresso”, “Please Please Please”, “Taste” and “Bed Chem.”

With “Man’s Best Friend” on the horizon, fans are eager to see how this controversy will shape Carpenter's artistic journey and how she will respond to the mixed reactions.