Sabrina Carpenter‘s new musical era is starting off with some controversy.
The Grammy-winning superstar followed the release of her song “Manchild” (June 5) by announcing her album Man’s Best Friend.
However, the pop star’s album cover has already received backlash.
The cover sees Sabrina on all fours while a faceless man yanks on her hair.
Island Records
Since sharing the picture, Carpenter has been slammed for supposedly promoting an image that caters to the male gaze and disempowers women.
“Love Sabrina – but this picture – why is the man in there like that? It’s not a very empowering image for women. I think its a mistake since most her fans are women and as a [domestic violence] survivor I find it uncomfortable and I’d rather see her empowered than like that … I don’t wanna be negative, I’m sorry, maybe its just me,” one person commented on the singer’s Instagram.
“How is this not just appealing to [the] male gaze?? Insanely misogynistic imagery. Man’s best friend??? please please please,” another wrote.
“Explain to me again how this isn’t centering men? How this isn’t catering to the male gaze?” someone else chimed in.
“Love [you] Sabrina but in this political climate with Trump as president and women’s control over their bodies being taken away in the U.S… this is kind [of] insensitive,” another fan shared.
READ MORE: Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Manchild’ Lyrics: Dragging Grown Boys One Line At a Time
Others, meanwhile, called out the cover for apparently being too sexual.
“Your fans are 11-year-old girls and you’re marketing sexual violence to them. Find God,” one scathing Instagram user commented.
“STOP OVERLY SEXUALIZING EVERYTHING MY GOD,” another wrote.
This week Carpenter seemingly addressed the controversy in an interview with Rolling Stone.
“I’m living in the glory of no one hearing it or knowing about it, and so I can not care. I can not give a f–k about it, because I’m just so excited,” Carpenter told the outlet about her new album.
Man’s Best Friendis out Aug. 29.
Worst Pop Album Covers Ever
We rounded up 20 of the worst pop album covers by some of the biggest pop stars in the world.
No matter the reason, these images just didn’t live up to fan expectations.
Gallery Credit: Mike Nied