Latest news with #Carpenter
Time Magazine
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time Magazine
Sabrina Carpenter Is Not the Problem
America, we have a problem: No one is having sex anymore. With the exception of Gen X women, there is a sharp decline in sexual activity across the nation. The consistent attacks on birth control and reproductive rights, in addition to the rise of tradwives and more traditional forms of motherhood, have no doubt contributed to an environment in the United States where sex feels like not only a means to an end (a baby), but also an inherently fearful act. To put it plainly: we do not live in a sexy economy. So, when Sabrina Carpenter released the cover art for her upcoming album Man's Best Friend, it was no surprise that she ruffled a few feathers— and became yet another placeholder for America's sexual frustrations. On the cover of Man's Best Friend, Carpenter is seen in a black mini-dress, while an out-of-frame man pulls on her hair, insinuating a sexual act. The cover was instantly dubbed as 'controversial,' though Carpenter is no stranger to that. Her recent stage performances and choreography have become the topic of conversation online among parents who view her as a bad role model for children. In a Rolling Stone cover story, the singer said that her critics are responsible for her music's notoriety. 'It's always so funny to me when people complain,' Carpenter explained. 'They're like, 'All she does is sing about this.' But those are the songs that you've made popular. Clearly, you love sex. You're obsessed with it.' She's not wrong. There is a lack of attention towards her acoustic numbers, which are often simplified, intimate moments where she waxes poetically about heartbreak, as compared to her exaggerated, risque acts, in which she engages in touch-in-cheek roleplay with her dancers. (Think her Eiffel Tower reference at her Paris show) The latter is heavily documented and shared on social media platforms, while the former is rarely shown outside of her tour stops. She's also not the first pop star to be accused of sexual immorality. In fact, it is a perverse rite of passage in our pop culture landscape. Just think about the scores of pop stars that have had to endure the same thing: Janet Jackson, Madonna, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera. Ronald Reagan was in office when Jackson released her euphoric single 'Pleasure Principle.' George H.W. Bush was in the midst of a presidential election campaign when Madonna published her 'scandalous' Sex coffee book, which was banned in several countries. George Bush was Commander in Chief when Spears and Aguilera left their girl-next-door personas in favor of sexier images. Sexism is not unique to the music industry, nor is racism, but the standards placed upon women in the music industry are reflective of the societal and cultural norms of the era in which they are performing. The existence of conservatism, which is as rampant as ever in President Donald Trump's second administration, runs in direct opposition to sex-positive pop stars. Although the majority of Americans are not having sex, the overt response to Carpenter's album cover points to the fact that, perhaps, they want to. But instead of being honest about their sexual desires, people pin their frustrations onto society's most visible. This includes pop stars. Because here's the thing: The problem is not that she is emulating sex positions on stage, or that she is on her hands and knees on her album cover. It is neither an attempt to glamorize intimate partner violence nor is it an introductory 101 course on pup play. The problem is the federal actions that have been taken to defund and restrict access to sex education services in the U.S.. The problem is the nation's swing back to conservative idealism, which disproportionately (and negatively) impacts women, people of color, and queer and trans people—all in the name of 'family values.' The problem is we are farther away from making sex fun—and pleasurable—for women than we've ever been. Perhaps Carpenter did not intend to be a participant in the ongoing culture war of sex and conservatism in the U.S. when she released the cover art for Man's Best Friend. Perhaps she is one of the few Americans not experiencing a sex recession. (Which, good for her!) But this album cover does feel like her attempt to participate in a cherished tradition for women in pop music. It is her declaration that women should have agency over their sexuality—just like so many pop stars have done before her. Above all, the Man's Best Friend cover art did reveal a deep truth in our insecure American consciousness: The inability to engage in healthy sexual behaviors, which is exacerbated by the influx of conservative content on social media, makes women who are confident in their sexual wants and desires the subject of unfair criticism and attack. It's scary to them just because of how free it looks.
The Star
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Sabrina Carpenter addresses 'Man's Best Friend' album art backlash
The Grammy-winning singer debuted the album art last week for the Aug 29 release of 'Man's Best Friend'. Photo: Handout Sabrina Carpenter is breaking her silence on her controversial new album cover that has displeased some fans. The Grammy-winning Espresso crooner, 26, debuted the album art last week for the Aug 29 release of Man's Best Friend, which shows the Disney Channel alum on her knees in a short black dress and matching stilettos as a man pulls her signature blonde tresses. Her post is restricted on Instagram for users 18 and over. 'Does she have a personality out side of sex?' asked one disgruntled X user. 'Girl yes and it is goooooood,' responded the Please, Please, Please singer, whose tongue-in-cheek lyrics and Short n' Sweet tour often delve into the sexually explicit. Those on X weren't alone in criticising the art, which Glasgow Women's Aid decried as 'regressive' and less 'subversion' than promoting 'tired stereotypes of women.' The day after making the album art public, fashion photographer David LaChapelle's nude portrait of Carpenter made waves as the cover of Rolling Stone's Summer Double Issue. 'It's always so funny to me when people complain,' Carpenter told the magazine. 'They're like, 'All she does is sing about this.' But those are the songs that you've made popular. Clearly you love sex. You're obsessed with it.' Though the show is full of innuendo and sexually charged choreography, Carpenter said there are also 'ballads' and 'the more introspective numbers. 'I find irony and humour in all of that. … I'm not upset about it, other than I feel mad pressure to be funny sometimes,' she continued, adding later that she feels 'like I've never lived in a time where women have been picked apart more, and scrutinised in every capacity'. – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service
New York Post
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Carly Simon defends Sabrina Carpenter's controversial album cover, says it's not ‘outrageous'
Carly Simon is coming to Sabrina Carpenter's defense. During a recent interview, Simon reacted to Carpenter's album cover that caused quite a stir. Carpenter's album artwork for 'Man's Best Friend' showed a photo of the singer on her hands and knees, as a man appeared to be grabbing her by the hair. The 'Busy Woman' singer wore a black mini dress and matching heels in the photo. Simon argued the current outrage surrounding Carpenter's album is relatively mild, compared to past examples of bold artistic expression in the music industry. 'She's not doing anything outrageous,' the 'You're So Vain' singer said in an interview with Rolling Stone. 'It seems tame.' 'There have been far flashier covers than hers,' Simon said. 'One of the most startling covers I've ever seen was [The Rolling Stones'] 'Sticky Fingers.' That was out there in terms of sexual attitude. So I don't know why she's getting such flak.' 6 Sabrina Carpenter on her album cover for 'Man's Best Friend.' Sabrina Carpenter Once Carpenter shared her latest album cover of 'Man's Best Friend,' fans were quick to comment. 'This cover makes me uncomfortable…' one person wrote. Another comment read, 'That's disgusting!!' Other fans enjoyed Carpenter's album and wrote, 'Sue her she wants to be iconic.' While Simon is no stranger to pushing the envelope herself, the singer reacted to the similar criticism she received for her famous 1975 'Playing Possum' album. 'Everybody looked at it, and people definitely had a reaction to it,' Simon told Rolling Stone of her own cover at the time. 'But they wouldn't have told me what they really thought.' 6 Carly Simon poses for a portrait in New York City in 1981. Getty Images 6 Carly Simon performs onstage at Radio City Music Hall on April 19, 2017. Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival The 'You Belong To Me' singer famously posed in a lacy black dress with matching leather boots. Simon's face wasn't shown, but she was photographed on her knees for the album cover. That photo was shot by Norman Seeff, who still remembers the stir it caused. 'Suddenly, I'm getting calls from 'Time' and 'Newsweek,' saying, 'This is one of the sexiest covers that has ever [been] known,'' Seeff recalled. 'There's this whole controversy around what did it represent? It felt very much like that energy in a woman, but I just thought of it as a beautiful shot.' 6 Sabrina Carpenter shares a photo celebrating her number-one debut album. sabrinacarpenter/Instagram Meanwhile, the former Disney star has been known for her racy performances and turning heads. In March, Carpenter shocked fans with her explicit dance moves at her concert in Paris. During every show on her 'Short n' Sweet' world tour, the singer simulates a different sexual position while performing her hit 'Juno.' Carpenter shows off each move when she sings the lyrics, 'Wanna try out some freaky positions? / Have you ever tried this one?' 6 Sabrina Carpenter performs onstage during her Short and Sweet tour at Barclays Center on Sept. 30, AEG 6 Sabrina Carpenter performs at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 29, 2024. Rolling Stone via Getty Images At her Paris performance, Carpenter paid tribute to the City of Lights when she and two male backup dancers simulated a three-way sex act, known as the Eiffel Tower. In a photo from the performance that the account Buzzing Pop posted on X, Carpenter, who donned a sparkly green and silver halter top with a matching miniskirt, was seen bending over between the two dancers who leaned into her and held hands above her. The position is meant to emulate the structure of Paris' famed historical landmark. The post divided fans when it went viral on social media, with some fans slamming Carpenter's performance as too inappropriate for the younger members of her fan base, while others contended that she had the right to evolve as an artist after transitioning to adulthood.
IOL News
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Why Sabrina Carpenter might ban phones at her shows and why it could be the wellness reset we didn't know we needed
Sabrina Carpenter has opened the conversation around her concerts becoming phone-free, but will her fans adjust to the idea? If you've ever been to a concert and found yourself watching it through someone else's phone screen or worse, through your own - you're not alone. We exist in a world where everything is documented, filtered and posted before the final encore, and now Sabrina Carpenter is daring to ask the question: What if we just… didn't? Whether it's doom-scrolling between acts or missing your favourite song because you're filming it instead of feeling it, research has shown that constant smartphone use can erode our ability to stay present. Carpenter's comment might have shocked her social-media-savvy fan base, but in a world craving genuine connection and mindful living, it actually makes a lot of sense. And it's not just about nostalgia - it's about concerts. 'They locked my phone,' she explained. 'I've never had a better experience at a concert. I genuinely felt like I was back in the Seventies. Everyone's singing, dancing, looking at each other and laughing. It really, really just felt so beautiful.' The 'Espresso' singer shared that the best concert experience she's had in recent years was a phone-free one seeing Silk Sonic perform in Las Vegas. 'This will honestly piss off my fans, but absolutely,' she said when asked if she'd consider implementing a no-phone policy. In a recent Rolling Stone interview, the pop darling and rising global star opened up about the idea of banning phones at her concerts. Sabrina Carpenter is toying with the idea of hosting phone-free concerts so that her fans can be in the moment. According to a study published in the Environment and Behavior Journal, people who experience live music events without phones report significantly higher levels of joy and emotional connection to the experience. From a lifestyle wellness perspective, this shift away from screens at concerts is a subtle but significant rebellion against burnout culture. It's a reminder to be here, now without needing to post about it for validation. HuffPost reports that major artists like Jack White, Alicia Keys, Madonna and Bob Dylan have already jumped on this train. These phone-free events typically use technology like Yondr - a system that locks your phone in a secure pouch you keep with you during the performance but can't open until you're back in a designated area. It's not a punishment; it's a permission slip to unplug. Why does this matter in the age of overstimulatio? We're living in a time of hyperconnectivity. Notifications, screen time and the pressure to record 'content' from every life moment have made it harder than ever to simply enjoy what's in front of us. For Gen Z - Carpenter's biggest fanbase - life is lived online. But even they are starting to show signs of digital fatigue. In fact, Common Sense Media reports that 59% of teens say they feel addicted to their phones, and 72% feel the need to immediately respond to notifications, even when they're busy with something else. Add the pressure to capture the 'perfect' concert memory, and suddenly a fun night out becomes a stress-inducing experience. Start of a digital detox movement? Sabrina's musings come at a moment when many of us are quietly craving disconnection. Her cheeky, self-aware remark, 'You cannot zoom in on my face. Right now, my skin is soft and supple. It's fine. Do not zoom in on me when I'm 80-years-old up there' might seem like a lighthearted joke, but it speaks to something deeper: boundaries, ageing in the spotlight and reclaiming privacy. She also acknowledges that she grew up with phones at concerts, and she gets it. 'I can't blame people for wanting to have memories,' she told Rolling Stone. But she leaves the door open for change: 'Depending on how long I want to be touring, and what age I am ... girl, take those phones away.' Don't panic just yet For now, fans can breathe easy. Carpenter says she doesn't plan to enforce this rule any time soon. But the seed is planted. And it invites a bigger conversation: Can we still have fun without documenting every second? Can a concert be more than a reel or TikTok trend but an actual memory?
New York Post
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Sabrina Carpenter will ‘absolutely' consider banning phones at her concerts: It will ‘piss off my fans'
Please, please, please don't prove she's right. Sabrina Carpenter has claimed that she would 'absolutely' consider banning phones at future concerts after she had to lock up her own device during a recent show she attended. 'This will honestly piss off my fans, but absolutely,' the 26-year-old 'Espresso' singer told Rolling Stone about the possibility in an interview published Wednesday. Advertisement 7 Sabrina Carpenter has claimed that she would 'absolutely' consider banning phones at her future concerts. WireImage 7 Carpenter discussed the possibility of banning phones at her concerts during an interview with Rolling Stone on Wednesday. Stefano Giovannini Carpenter started thinking about having fans lock their phones away in pouches after seeing the Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak duo, Silk Sonic, do just that during a performance in Las Vegas. Advertisement 'They locked my phone,' she said. 'I've never had a better experience at a concert. I genuinely felt like I was back in the Seventies — wasn't alive. Genuinely felt like I was there.' 'Everyone's singing, dancing, looking at each other, and laughing,' she added. 'It really, really just felt so beautiful.' 7 'This will honestly piss off my fans, but absolutely,' the 'Espresso' singer said regarding the possibility. Andy Kropa/Invision/AP 'I've grown up in the age of people having iPhones at shows,' the 'Please Please Please' superstar acknowledged. 'It unfortunately feels super normal to me. I can't blame people for wanting to have memories.' Advertisement But Carpenter's fanbase might not need to worry just yet. The 'Manchild' singer suggested that she would not start enforcing the no-phone rule for quite some time. 'Depending on how long I want to be touring, and what age I am, girl, take those phones away,' she said. 'You cannot zoom in on my face.' 7 Carpenter started thinking about having fans lock their phones away in pouches after seeing Silk Sonic do just that during a performance in Las Vegas.'Right now, my skin is soft and supple. It's fine,' she added. 'Do not zoom in on me when I'm 80 years old up there.' Advertisement The 'Nonsense' songstress received mixed reactions for her phone remarks. 'Bad idea for people who have responsibilities, like what if something urgent happened?' one person wrote on X, formerly Twitter. 'Oh, sorry, my phone was locked. I was in a concert.' 7 The 'Please Please Please' singer's fans were left divided over the idea of having to lock their phones away during Carpenter's concerts. / MEGA 'I think people should be able to do that whatever they want. Their life, their experience,' another person commented. 'They pay money to go to concerts. They should be able to film it if they want.' 'Charge less for tickets, fees and parking, then you can have a small hill to stand on in terms of taking away the memories people take with vids and phones,' added a third. However, others welcomed the idea and agreed that a no-phone rule could heighten the audience's concert experience. 7 'I think people should be able to do that whatever they want,' one fan responded. 'Their life, their experience,' Getty Images 'All phones should be banned at concerts,' one fan tweeted. 'Everyone should live in the moment and trust their memory.' Advertisement 'She gets it!' added another. 'It's about living in the moment and enjoying the experience fully.' 'I love this idea [because] I went to one of her concerts and could barely see her because of everyone's phones,' a third critic wrote on X. 'No one was even dancing or enjoying [because] they were just filming and screaming.' 7 The Disney Channel alum faced backlash for the album cover of her upcoming record, 'Man's Best Friend.' Sabrina Carpenter Elsewhere during the interview, the 'Short n' Sweet' artist discussed the scrutiny she and other female artists face. Advertisement Carpenter's remarks came shortly after she announced her upcoming album, 'Man's Best Friend,' and the controversial cover art that shows the Disney Channel alum in a black dress and down on her hands and knees while a person off-camera pulls her hair. 'I don't want to be pessimistic, but I truly feel like I've never lived in a time where women have been picked apart more, and scrutinized in every capacity,' the 'Bed Chem' singer told the outlet. 'I'm not just talking about me. I'm talking about every female artist that is making art right now.' 'We're in such a weird time where you would think it's girl power, and women supporting women, but in reality, the second you see a picture of someone wearing a dress on a carpet, you have to say everything mean about it in the first 30 seconds that you see it,' Carpenter added.
