Sabrina Carpenter Says Controversial Album Cover Art Depicted Her Being ‘Emotionally Yanked Around’ in Past Relationships

Sabrina Carpenter is sharing more context about her Man’s Best Friend cover art.

In a new cover story for Variety‘s Hitmakers Issue, the “Juno” singer asked about the controversy surrounding her latest album cover art, which featured Carpenter on her hands and knees as an anonymous man grabbed a handful of her hair.

“It was about how people try to control women, and how I felt emotionally yanked around by these relationships that I had, and how much power you’re allowing yourself to give them,” Carpenter, 26, told the outlet.

After she revealed the cover art in June, Carpenter faced backlash, with many claiming it was degrading to women. The “Espresso” hitmaker found some of these points valid — but she’s clear it was never her intention.

“It meant one thing to me and 100 things to other people, and I was looking at it going, ‘That’s valid. Mine’s valid. What’s for dinner?'” Carpenter said.

She added, “Not to bypass the weight that it did carry for some people. I saw it and was like, ‘That is a great point. It wasn’t the point I was trying to make.'”

Elsewhere in the interview, the “Sugar Talking” singer recalled being a young girl and looking up to women who would sing about sex. “I always thought, ‘When I grow up, then I get to embrace my sexuality more. I don’t even know what that means yet!'” she said.

“People think, ‘Oh, she’ll say and do anything.’ No. I really do have boundaries with myself — you’d be surprised!” she continued. “I’m just actually living my life, and you’re watching. If you don’t like it, it’s not for you. If you do like it, let’s play.” 

Ultimately, Carpenter is happy that the album — which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart — had “the most beautiful reception.”

In the days after Carpenter shared the album cover, the “Feather” singer responded to an X user who reshared the album cover, saying, “Does she have a personality outside of sex?”

Carpenter reshared the post and said: “girl yes and it is goooooood.”