Sabrina Carpenter's "Man's Best Friend" is far from a tame listen – it's not for the easily startled or the overly sensitive. Barely a week has passed since the release of the 26-year-old pop star's eighth studio album. Ever since she first announced "Man's Best Friend" and unveiled its original artwork, Carpenter has found herself ensnared in a maelstrom of controversy. To some of her critics, the album's title and accompanying imagery have painted her as an antifeminist who panders to the male gaze. Yet, her fans understand the subtlety behind her actions and her motivations.
In the September cover story for Interview magazine, the pop star addressed the storm of controversy that has engulfed her. "I perceive submission as encompassing both dominance and submissiveness," Carpenter told the magazine. "It all boils down to your intentions, desires, cravings, and needs. The image, in my view, is a metaphor, though I'm sure some might think, 'Dang, she's a submissive one.'"
The image Carpenter is referring to depicts her on her hands and knees, clad in a snug black minidress, as an unidentified man playfully tugs at her voluminous blonde hair. With her trademark pout, Carpenter gazes at the camera with wide, innocent eyes.
The immediate wave of backlash against the cover may have spurred Carpenter to release alternate versions, including a homage to a 1957 paparazzi photo of Marilyn Monroe and her then-husband, playwright Arthur Miller.
Carpenter admitted to Interview that she hadn't necessarily foreseen this reaction to the initial "Man's Best Friend" cover. Gauging the public's reaction to a creative decision she hadn't yet publicized wasn't a factor in her decision-making process. "If I'm being completely candid, I don't make decisions anticipating how people will react. I only do what resonates with me, feels right, and makes sense when paired with the music. When I conceived the imagery, its meaning was crystal clear to me. So, the reaction is intriguing to observe. You just watch it unfold and think, 'Wow,'" she said.
As for the lyrics, "Man's Best Friend" takes another plunge into the depths of Carpenter's desires. The album teems with cleverly constructed sexual innuendos. On her new single "Tears," for example, Carpenter croons about tears trickling down her thighs at the mere thought of a man actually behaving well. She admitted to the magazine that she was surprised by how singing about sex is still considered taboo. "I understand there's a lot of nuance to this, and I'm not naive, but I wondered, 'Why is this taboo?' It's something women experience so vividly, becoming comfortable with themselves and their identity," she said.
Ultimately, Carpenter acknowledges that her material is open to interpretation. Not everyone will appreciate it – and that's perfectly fine with her. "I'm incredibly grateful that a significant portion of my audience knows me as a person and will be able to hear these songs as intended," Carpenter told Interview. "It's always subject to interpretation, and I understand that. But I'm glad you enjoy my sexual content."
