Carly Simon has spoken out in support of Sabrina Carpenter following the backlash over the provocative cover art for Carpenter’s upcoming album, Man’s Best Friend.
Carpenter revealed the artwork last week; a bold image showing her kneeling on the floor, touching a man’s knee, while he pulls her hair. The photo quickly divided opinion online, with fans and critics clashing over whether the image goes too far.
But now, one of pop’s most respected voices is stepping in.
“It seems tame”: Carly Simon says the backlash is overblown
Speaking to Rolling Stone, 81-year-old icon Carly Simon questioned why the photo was causing such a stir.
“She’s not doing anything outrageous,” Simon said. “It seems tame. There have been far flashier covers than hers. One of the most startling covers I’ve ever seen was Sticky Fingers by the Rolling Stones. That was out there in terms of sexual attitude. So I don’t know why she’s getting such flak.”
Simon, of course, knows a thing or two about controversy. Her 1975 album Playing Possum featured the singer kneeling in a black negligee and boots, a photo that sparked headlines of its own.
Even so, Simon admitted with a smile that Carpenter’s pose may have crossed a line:
“I thought it was going over the line a little bit, touching the man’s knee. I thought she didn’t have to do that.”
Sabrina claps back at critics
Carpenter, who’s riding high after her viral hit Espresso, also responded directly to the backlash. When one user on X asked if she had a personality “outside of sex,” Carpenter shot back:
“Girl yes and it is goooooood.”
The pop star’s new album Man’s Best Friend is set for release on 29 August, just months after her previous project, Short n’ Sweet. With two albums dropping in the same year and major chart momentum behind her, Carpenter continues to position herself as one of pop’s most talked-about stars.
