Sabrina Carpenter explains Man’s Best Friend cover meaning and criticism

Sabrina Carpenter says the controversial cover for her album Man's Best Friend symbolises feeling "emotionally yanked around" in relationships. Photo / Getty Images

Sabrina Carpenter claims her Man’s Best Friend album cover was designed to demonstrate how she has been “emotionally yanked around” in relationships.

The 26-year-old singer sparked controversy this year with the record cover, which depicted her on all fours while her hair was being tugged by a faceless figure, but insists she didn’t set out to make it appear degrading to females.

Carpenter told Variety: “It was about how people try to control women, and how I felt emotionally yanked around by these relationships that I had, and how much power you’re allowing yourself to give them.

“It meant one thing to me and 100 things to other people, and I was looking at it going, ‘That’s valid. Mine’s valid. What’s for dinner?’

“Not to bypass the weight that it did carry for some people. I saw it and was like, ‘That’s a great point. It wasn’t the point I was trying to make’.”

Carpenter often makes jokes about sex and believes this outrages some because of her childhood acting fame in shows such as Girl Meets World.

The Tears hitmaker said: “I think it wouldn’t matter so much if I wasn’t a childhood figure for some people.

“But I also can’t really help that. It’s not my fault that I got a job when I was 12 and you won’t let me evolve.”

However, Carpenter rejects the notion she doesn’t have any boundaries because of the often raunchy nature of her lyrics.

She said: “People think, ‘Oh, she’ll say and do anything’. No, I really do have boundaries with myself – you’d be surprised.

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“I’m just actually living my life and you’re watching. If you don’t like it, it’s not for you. If you do like it, let’s play.”

Carpenter’s music addresses the themes of love and break-ups and she believes it is possible to combine both.

The Espresso singer said: “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. But you’re doing it all because you are a smart woman and because you’re in control of your life.

“You can be super put-together and everything can be in shambles. Like, two things can exist!”