Sabrina Carpenter Speaks Out Against Critics and Praises Taylor Swift in Variety Profile.
In a candid interview with Variety, 26-year-old pop star Sabrina Carpenter addressed the controversy surrounding her risqué on-stage persona, suggestive songs, and album covers. The Bucks County native was named "Hitmaker of the Year" by the magazine last October.
Carpenter acknowledged that some critics have taken issue with the provocative lyrics in her songs like "Espresso" and "Manchild," but she insisted that this style is intentional and not meant to offend. "I feel like you can be super confident and strong, and also knowingly f*** up and knowingly get yourself into situations that are not good for you," she said. "But you're doing it all because you are a smart woman and because you're in control of your life."
The singer also discussed her 2025 album, "Man's Best Friend," which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts and earned six Grammy nominations, including "Album of the Year." The album's cover, featuring Carpenter on all fours with an anonymous man in a suit, sparked backlash for its imagery, which critics deemed demeaning.
"I was like 'That is a great point,' but it wasn't the point I was trying to make," Carpenter said. "I saw it and was like, 'This isn't about what you think it is.'" The singer explained that the album's lyrics are meant to be sarcastic and subversive, with some critics missing the nuance.
Carpenter also discussed her collaboration with Taylor Swift on the title track of Swift's chart-topping 12th album, "The Life of a Showgirl." Carpenter was the sole feature on the song, which spoke to their shared life experiences as young performers. "Ten-year-old me could not believe it — to hear our voices together," Carpenter said.
In addition to her music career, Carpenter has been making headlines for speaking out against the White House's use of her song "Juno" in a video about immigration raids. She called the video "evil and disgusting" and vowed not to let her music be used to benefit an "inhumane agenda."
Despite the backlash, Carpenter remains confident and unapologetic about her art. As she prepares to receive Variety's 2025 "Hitmaker of the Year" award, it's clear that she is determined to stay true to herself and her vision.
In a candid interview with Variety, 26-year-old pop star Sabrina Carpenter addressed the controversy surrounding her risqué on-stage persona, suggestive songs, and album covers. The Bucks County native was named "Hitmaker of the Year" by the magazine last October.
Carpenter acknowledged that some critics have taken issue with the provocative lyrics in her songs like "Espresso" and "Manchild," but she insisted that this style is intentional and not meant to offend. "I feel like you can be super confident and strong, and also knowingly f*** up and knowingly get yourself into situations that are not good for you," she said. "But you're doing it all because you are a smart woman and because you're in control of your life."
The singer also discussed her 2025 album, "Man's Best Friend," which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts and earned six Grammy nominations, including "Album of the Year." The album's cover, featuring Carpenter on all fours with an anonymous man in a suit, sparked backlash for its imagery, which critics deemed demeaning.
"I was like 'That is a great point,' but it wasn't the point I was trying to make," Carpenter said. "I saw it and was like, 'This isn't about what you think it is.'" The singer explained that the album's lyrics are meant to be sarcastic and subversive, with some critics missing the nuance.
Carpenter also discussed her collaboration with Taylor Swift on the title track of Swift's chart-topping 12th album, "The Life of a Showgirl." Carpenter was the sole feature on the song, which spoke to their shared life experiences as young performers. "Ten-year-old me could not believe it — to hear our voices together," Carpenter said.
In addition to her music career, Carpenter has been making headlines for speaking out against the White House's use of her song "Juno" in a video about immigration raids. She called the video "evil and disgusting" and vowed not to let her music be used to benefit an "inhumane agenda."
Despite the backlash, Carpenter remains confident and unapologetic about her art. As she prepares to receive Variety's 2025 "Hitmaker of the Year" award, it's clear that she is determined to stay true to herself and her vision.
. I mean, she knows what she wants to say and how she wants to say it, and if some people are gonna get upset about it, that's on them, you know? 
. And can we talk about her collab with Taylor Swift? That's like, ultimate girl power 
. I love that she's using her platform to speak out against the White House and their use of her music - it's not easy to do that, but she's owning it 
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like sabrina carpenter says she's intentionally trying to be a 'smart woman in control of her life' but honestly sounds like just another celeb trying to sell merch 
"I'm not sorry, I'm just trying to make music that makes me feel good" same, girl same 
taylor swift tho is still a legend in my eyes 
and i love how sabrina's collaborating with her on the new album it's gonna be lit 
btw who else thought the album cover for "mans best friend" was kinda funny 
she slays in this interview and i love how she's not apologizing for being confident and unapologetic about her art. the way she explains the meaning behind "man's best friend" is EVERYTHING, like, don't @ me when ppl say she's trying to be provocative but really she's just subverting expectations 
taylor swift is a total icon too and i'm so glad they collaborated on that track!!! 
the way sabrina talks about taylor is everything, like, 10-year-old her couldnt even believe it 
I'm telling you, this whole thing is like a setup for Sabrina Carpenter. Think about it, she releases an album with some pretty risqué lyrics and covers, and suddenly she's " Hitmaker of the Year"?! 
It's all so convenient. And don't even get me started on that song with Taylor Swift... I mean, what's really going on there? Is it just a coincidence that they're both speaking out against the same thing at the same time? 
I'm not buying it. There's something fishy about this whole situation...
she is so brave for speaking out against people who just wanna criticize her for being confident and strong like wut even is wrong with that?! 
also can we talk about how amazing it is that she collaborated with taylor swift?! they're both queens in my book 
. I love how she owns her art and isn't afraid to push boundaries 
. At the end of the day, creativity is about taking risks and being honest with yourself and your audience 
. It's okay to have opinions that might not be everyone's cup of tea – it's all part of the conversation 
. What I find really inspiring is how she stays true to herself even when faced with criticism 
. That takes a lot of courage, especially at her age! For me, this whole situation is a reminder to trust my own voice and not be afraid to express myself authentically 
. It's amazing to see her speaking out against the use of her music in that immigration video, even if it means going up against the White House 
I feel like Sabrina Carpenter is being super honest about her intentions with her music, you know? She's not trying to offend anyone, but rather show the world what she's comfortable with and what makes her strong. That album cover for "Man's Best Friend" was definitely a conversation starter... 
. I mean, who doesn't love a woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to show it? 
And I'm totally here for the sarcasm in her album lyrics - some people just need to chill out and pay attention 
. Taylor Swift is pretty cool too, teaming up with Sabrina on that collab track is like a match made in heaven 
. And I love how she's owning her confidence and unapologetically being herself. I mean, who doesn't want to be a strong, smart woman who knows what they're doing?
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what do you guys think about sabrinas latest album tho?
i mean, come on, some people just can't handle a little bit of nuance, you know? and honestly, the fact that critics are still trying to police what she's saying with her music is kinda wild. like, if you're gonna listen to "manchild" or "espresso", at least have the decency to understand what she's trying to say 
. As a parent, it's great to see young women like her who aren't afraid to get real about life and their art. And can we talk about how she's using her platform to stand up against injustice? It gives me all the feels 
.