Sabrina Carpenter doesn’t care what “Tommy from Arkansas” thinks about her artistic choices.
In an interview with CBS ‘s M & M on Friday, the “Espresso” singer spoke about her reaction to the controversy surrounding the cover of her seventh album, “Man’s Best Friend,” which shows a carpenter kneeling at the feet of a male figure pulling her hair.
Gayle King read aloud a comment in which a fan said that Carpenter “can’t have it both ways. If this is a satire on how men treat us, it can’t also be a simple depiction of a woman being submissive just because she’s sexy.”
“You all need to get out more,” Carpenter told King. “I think I was really shocked because I think between me and my friends and my family and the people that I always share my music and my art with, it just wasn’t even a conversation.”
Last year, Carpenter released “Short N’ Sweet,” an LP that became one of the vibe setters of last summer’s Area.
During the 67th Grammys ceremony, the record took home two awards – pop vocal album and pop solo performance for “Espresso.”
Her follow-up effort was released on Thursday; the original artwork dropped months earlier, on June 11. The artist posted an alternate cover on her Instagram that was “approved by God.” In it, the former Disney Channel “Girl Meets World” co-star—she also sang the theme song—simply stands next to a man.
During the interview, the “Please, Please, Please” singer discussed her intentions behind the original cover art, which divided fans.
“My interpretation is control, being in control, and when you want to be in control,” Carpenter said. “I think as a young woman, you know just as well when you’re in control as when you’re not.”
She added, “[‘Man’s Best Friend’ is] about the humanity of allowing yourself to make these mistakes, knowing when you’re put in a situation that’s probably going to end badly, but it’s going to teach you something.”
But what do her parents think?
“My parents actually saw the photo and they loved it.”
