Carly Simon has stepped forward to champion Sabrina Carpenter amidst a storm of controversy. In a recent interview, Simon weighed in on Carpenter's album cover for "Man's Best Friend," which sparked a fervent debate. The cover depicted Carpenter on her hands and knees, with a man seemingly grasping her hair, while she wore a chic black mini dress and coordinating heels.
Simon contended that the current furor surrounding Carpenter's artwork paled in comparison to the daring artistic expressions that have marked the music industry's past. "She's hardly pushing any boundaries," the "Busy Woman" crooner remarked during an interview with Rolling Stone, dismissing the hubbub as "tame." "There have been far more provocative covers," Simon continued, citing The Rolling Stones' "Sticky Fingers" as a prime example of a cover that boldly showcased a sexual attitude. "I can't fathom why she's receiving such backlash."
Upon unveiling her "Man's Best Friend" album cover, Carpenter's fans were swift with their reactions. "This cover gives me the creeps," one commentator voiced. Another exclaimed, "That's revolting!" Conversely, some admirers embraced the cover, urging, "Sue her if you must; she's striving for icon status."
Simon, no stranger to controversy herself, recalled the similar scrutiny she faced for her notorious 1975 "Playing Possum" album cover. "People certainly had strong reactions to it," Simon reminisced to Rolling Stone, acknowledging the cover's impact. "But they wouldn't dare voice their true thoughts to my face." For her part, Simon famously posed in a lace black dress and matching leather boots, knees bent, though her face remained concealed. The photo, snapped by Norman Seeff, stirred quite a stir.
"I was flooded with calls from Time and Newsweek, hailing it as one of the sexiest covers ever," Seeff recounted. "There was much debate about its meaning, with some interpreting it as a celebration of feminine energy, while I simply saw it as a stunning shot."
Carpenter, a former Disney star, has garnered attention for her bold performances. During her "Short n’ Sweet" world tour in March, she left fans aghast with explicit dance moves at her Paris concert. For each show, the singer enacted different sexual positions while belting out her hit "Juno," synchronizing each move with the lyrics, "Wanna try out some freaky positions? / Have you ever tried this one?"
At her Paris gig, Carpenter honored the City of Lights by performing a three-way sex act, akin to the Eiffel Tower, alongside two male backup dancers. A photo from the performance, shared by Buzzing Pop on X, captured Carpenter, clad in a sparkling green and silver halter top and miniskirt, bending over between the dancers who held hands above her, mimicking the famous Parisian landmark.
The post polarized fans when it went viral on social media. Some lambasted Carpenter's performance as inappropriate for her younger fans, while others argued that, as an artist transitioning into adulthood, she had the right to evolve.
