“Manchild” singer Sabrina Carpenter has revealed alternate artwork for her forthcoming album after facing backlash over the original cover.
The earlier artwork for Carpenter’s “Man’s Best Friend,” which is slated for release in August, featured a photo of Carpenter kneeling in front of a man who is holding her hair. Carpenter debuted the image on social media earlier this month, announcing that “Man’s Best Friend” was available for pre-order.
On social media, some fans said the image was demeaning while others argued it was satirical.
“Will be having a conversation with my 9 year old daughter about whether we can continue to support Sabrina’s music,” one follower wrote on Instagram. “Girls already have enough misogynistic imagery to contend with these days.”
“This isn’t satire, this is not empowering to women. You’ve missed the mark by so much hun,” another wrote.
Carpenter had plenty of defenders, however. One argued that the photo was “tame” in comparison “to everything else on the internet,” while a few called it “iconic.”
Carly Simon also came to Carpenter’s defense, telling Rolling Stone that she didn’t see “anything wrong” with the artwork, aside from maybe Carpenter touching the man’s leg. “I thought she didn’t have to do that,” the “You’re So Vain” singer said.
“I mean, look at all of the people who dress much more scantily,” Simon told the outlet. “She’s so beautiful, and she should be proud of herself and the way she looks.”
Poking fun at the controversy on Wednesday, Carpenter announced the release of alternate album artwork on social media.
“Here is a new alternate cover approved by God available now on my website,” she wrote. The post included two black-and-white photos, which appeared to be inspired by an image of Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller.
The album, with its alternate cover, is currently available for preorder on Carpenter’s website alongside the standard copy of “Man’s Best Friend” and its more controversial cover art.
Both covers, meanwhile, will be eligible for a new Grammy category honoring best album covers, ironically announced the day after Carpenter revealed the standard “Man’s Best Friend” artwork earlier this month.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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