Many have pointed out the image bears a strong resemblance to “misogynistic ads from the ’60s.” In contrast, others claim that the photograph is intended for the male gaze and that nowadays liberation can be achieved through other means.
“Intentionally reproducing a misogynistic aesthetic, even under the guise of satire, doesn’t subvert it; it reinforces it. It aestheticizes the very tropes it claims to critique,” someone wrote on X criticizing the cover.
Others argued that while the point of the cover was to subvert sexist tropes, its execution failed to deliver. “Satire implies an exaggeration,” another person wrote on X. “The Sabrina cover and title can easily be perceived at face value, so it FAILS at being satire.”
Are people defending Sabrina Carpenter for Man’s Best Friend?
While there’s a handful of people criticizing the cover of Man’s Best Friend, there are also many people defending the choice of cover art, saying it’s supposed to be satirical, ironic, and tongue-in-cheek.
“The way people can’t comprehend that an album called ‘Man’s Best Friend’ with cover art of a man treating a woman like a dog (b*tch), and a lead song titled ‘Manchild’ is clearly ironic/criticizing those things,” someone commented on X.
Some claimed detractors are trying to police Carpenter’s sexual expression, while others defended the cover as being purposely controversial, likening it to previous work from ‘80s, ’90s, and ’00s stars like Madonna, Xtina, and Britney.
As far as the accusations that say Carpenter is catering to the male gaze, others jumped to the singer’s defense, both in relation to the cover art for the album and the Rolling Stone cover.
“Saying a woman is ‘catering to the male gaze’ has become a modern form of slutshaming disguised as feminism. She has every right to show off her body,” a person wrote on X. “Maybe this is a bad take, but I fear we have ‘stop doing things for the male gaze’d ourselves back into expecting women to be modest and shaming them otherwise, and it’s strange,” a second one agreed. “Y’all are starting to say feminism=modesty, and it’s really pmo. Her owning and doing what she wants with her body IS feminism,” a third one added.
