Vocalist of pop hits Sabrina Carpenter again is in the media’s eye, but not only because of her number one hit or concerts featuring a sold-out venue.
The 26-year-old starlet is simultaneously in the middle of two fiery discussions: an alleged ban on phones at her concerts and controversy caused by the front cover of her next record.
The day after her Lollapalooza 2025 breathtaking show, where she shocked the crowd by Earth, Wind & Fire joining her on stage, the media started covering these stories.
However, it’s her actions off the stage that attract even more attention.
Carpenter Ponders on Banning Phones at Her Concerts
Last month, in an interview published, Carpenter confessed that she would be more than happy to do away with cell phones from her future concerts, which means no phones at all, no matter what.
Silk Sonic’s phone-free show in Las Vegas inspired the singer to say that she “couldn’t have” felt “more connected” as a member of the audience.
“It really made me think of the ’70s,” she commented. “No one was filming. Everybody was dancing and actually watching.”
Carpenter stated that the idea might not be to the liking of all fans but, in her opinion, it would lead to a more unforgettable experience.
Moreover, she humorously added that she doesn’t want people creating zoomed-in videos of her face for years to come.
In case she goes ahead with the scheme, spectators would have to put their mobiles in locked pouches during the concert.
Recently, several stars including Adele, Jack White, and Bob Dylan have adopted these kinds of regulations.
Strong Opinions About the Album
Also, Carpenter is the subject of criticism due to the original album cover of her next studio album, Man’s Best Friend, which is set to be released in 29th August 2025.
The image depicts Carpenter with her face down and hands and knees, wearing a black mini dress, and a blurred hand appears to be pulling her hair.
The imagery caused an uproar of criticism to flow across the social media platforms. Some people declared it to be “degrading” and “offensive.”
Some women’s rights organizations stated that the image was one of those that had been “tightening the connection between the power and gender” theme and that it was a representation of the power and gender relations in such a way that it had negative implications.
One of the organizations, Women’s Aid from Glasgow, referred to the artwork as “regressive and dangerous for young women” and announced that it vehemently opposed it.
Sabrina Responds with New Covers
After a short period during which the criticism had been escalating, Carpenter reacted to the controversy by showing the public two different album covers.
In one, she wore a conservative formal dress, while in the other, she was depicted sitting in a pastel room and facing the camera with her hand holding a small card on which the album initials, “M.B.F.,” were written.
She characterized one of the alternate covers as “a version allowed by God,” a sarcastic reaction to the uproar.
It seems Carpenter hasn’t directly disapproved of the controversy, but when asked about it, she spoke more broadly about the double standards faced by female musicians. In another conversation, she mentioned:
“There will always be those who are uncomfortable with women that chooses to express themselves.”
A Second Photo Sparks New Debate
Just after the album cover incident, Carpenter shared a photo that got people talking once again. She was seen standing next to a shopping cart while a motorcycle was passing behind her.
Some viewers of this photo accused her of creating a “childlike” or “Lolita-like” image.
Critics at first implied that the photo was not okay, especially when considering her young fans.
But some others said that she was just telling a story visually to get people talking about her album release.
The Bigger Picture
Sabrina Carpenter has always been known for going beyond the set limits.
Her new single, “Manchild,” debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and her next album is likely to have a similar success.
She will also start the second U.S. part of her “Short n’ Sweet Tour” on October 23, and there will be a New York, a Los Angeles, and a Nashville concert.
However, as her music is only one side of the story, her recent actions lead to a bigger question: Is it still possible for artists to create freely in such a world where every picture, lyric, or decision is instantly criticized?
Carpenter’s start with the prohibition of the use of the phone and her artistic works with shocking visual have become topics of a larger cultural dialogue.
At a time when fans record every a minute-detail and images are spread like wildfire, she is questioning not only the habits of the audience but the rules of the industry as well.
She might be wrong, and fans may not like these transformations, but Sabrina Carpenter is certain that she will not hesitate to do daring things — either on stage or off.
