Feminism, Satire, or perpetuating old tropes? What Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend Album Cover Is Really Saying | Haute Take Mondays
A deep dive into Sabrina Carpenter’s album cover, the politics of pop culture, and media literacy in 2025.
Let’s talk about Sabrina Carpenter's album cover Man's Best Friend — is it feminism, misogyny, or just a poorly executed satire? Let’s dive into this mess.
Women in pop have always been scrutinized for everything: their hair, their bodies, their weight, the amount of skin they show. It’s never-ending. And Sabrina Carpenter, a Disney kid turned pop princess, has had a slow rise to mainstream success. With her iconic blonde blowout, she’s playing with hypersexual aesthetics — and I’m not just talking about her looks, but also the way she frames herself in her music and art.
Now, let’s talk about the cover for Man's Best Friend. It’s caused a lot of backlash, and while I’m not personally a fan of Sabrina, there’s no denying her talent and the fact that she has the privilege of being a white woman in pop music — the ideal package for success in the industry.
cite: Unknown. Tame (1970). Old Advertising Blog, May 2010, https://oldadvertising.blogspot.com/2010/05/tame-1970.html.
In the album cover, Sabrina is on all fours, staring innocently at the camera, while a man in a black suit grabs her hair. This imagery is disturbing, yes — but it also taps into those 50s and 60s ads where women were depicted as docile, submissive, and “pleasing.” Some people are saying she’s ‘dragged by her hair with smeared makeup,’ but I don’t buy it. What I see is a stark mimicry of those retro ad aesthetics. It’s eerie, and it begs the question: is Sabrina the cause of feminism’s regression? No. But does she contribute to it? I would argue yes.
Snopes. Vintage Coffee Ad. Snopes.com, 11 Nov. 2020, https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/vintage-coffee-ad/.
Now, fans are defending her, saying this is all satire. But if people can’t immediately tell it’s satire, then is it really satire? That’s where media literacy comes in — dissecting the work we consume through different lenses and understanding the deeper message, if there is one. But here’s the thing: Sabrina is playing with a dangerous line.
Sabrina’s vinyl
Let’s put this into context. Sabrina’s white, she’s pretty, and she fits the beauty standard. Meanwhile, we have real, pressing issues happening in the world. In LA, there are ICE raids and veterans being detained for protesting. Women’s rights are under attack every single day, and Sabrina, sheltered in her bubble of privilege, gets to create art that is highly controversial and, in my opinion, harmful — and still get away with it.
Now, let’s talk about hypersexuality. We need to recognize that it doesn’t always equal feminism. This isn’t some return to ‘puritan culture’ or conservatism — this is about understanding that there’s a fine line between women owning their sexuality and catering to predatory behavior. Sabrina’s lyrics, like
“I’m full grown but I look like a niña
Come put something big in my casita
Mexico, I think you are bonita!”– Sabrina Carpenter, live performance at Mexico City, August 2023.
Creator: Hector Vivas/TAS23 | Credit: Getty Images for TAS Rights Mana
Copyright: 2023 TASRM and Getty Images
Some of you might think I’m being dramatic, but I don’t care. This is a conversation that needs to be had — and it’s way too often dismissed as “a lack of media literacy.” No, it’s about critically analyzing the art we consume and what it’s telling us, especially when it’s targeting young, impressionable audiences.
That's all I got for today. I was planning to film this for a YouTube video, but for now, you’re getting my raw thoughts. Maybe I’ll post it there later. So go ahead, subscribe to my YouTube, and let me know your Haute Take on Sabrina’s album cover.
Is it satire, feminism, or just problematic? Drop your thoughts in the comments below — and I’ll see you next Monday for another Haute Take.