Sabrina Carpenter has made a triumphant return, arming herself with a selection of options. On Wednesday, the Grammy-adorned artist unveiled an alternate cover art for her impending album titled "Man's Best Friend," slated for release on August 29th. This new iteration showcases a poignant black-and-white photograph of Carpenter resting her head on the shoulder of a suit-clad gentleman, with other males faintly discernible in the backdrop. It presents a marked contrast to the original cover, which featured Carpenter on all fours, with a suited individual gripping her hair, earning it an R-rated tag.
The original cover, lensed masterfully by Bryce Anderson, ignited a firestorm of controversy, inciting debates and drawing intense scrutiny from numerous individuals who deemed it as both provocative and demeaning to women's status. It was unveiled alongside another striking image, portraying a dog collar adorned elegantly with the album's title. Nevertheless, a contingency rallied in her defense, extolling her artistic choice as a poignant and incisive commentary on the dynamics of power. Alternatively, as succinctly articulated in a viral post, "Empower women to embrace their sexuality with pride."
Carpenter hasn't directly confronted the criticisms, but she subtly acknowledged them in her announcement of the alternate cover (also captured by Anderson), pensively noting, "and here is a new alternate cover sanctified by the divine." The singer has autographed a series of these alternate copies and is offering them for sale on her website, presented on a unique opaque black-and-white disc.
Also on Wednesday, Carpenter unveiled her second collaborative beverage with Dunkin' Donuts—the Sabrina's Strawberry Daydream Refresher. To introduce this delectable creation, Dunkin' joined forces with photographer and director Nadia Lee Cohen for an enchanting advertisement titled "Dunkin' Daydream Hotline." In this vintage hotline-themed setting, Carpenter portrays a flirtatious "Daydream Matchmaker," answering a late-night call with a sprinkle of magic.
