Just when fans were still riding high from her hit single “Manchild,” Sabrina Carpenter has stirred up a different kind of buzz — and it’s not just about the music.
The 26-year-old pop star recently announced her upcoming album Man’s Best Friend, but the cover art has taken center stage, and not in the way she might’ve hoped.
A Tease Turns into Controversy on Instagram Live
Sabrina shared the news during a casual Instagram Live, flipping through classic records by legends like Donna Summer, ABBA, and Dolly Parton before landing on her own.
That’s when she dropped the bomb: her seventh studio album is titled Man’s Best Friend.
But what really caught everyone’s eye — and quickly sparked controversy — was the album cover.
It features Sabrina on all fours, her hair being pulled by someone dressed in black pants.
Their face is hidden, adding an intentionally provocative mystery to the image.
She also followed up with a close-up of a dog collar, heart-shaped and engraved with the album’s title.
The visuals were bold, to say the least — and reactions were just as intense.
Fans Split Over the Bold Imagery
While some fans were all in, others were left scratching their heads or downright furious.
“Pathetic. Wtf is she thinking,” one commenter blasted. Another simply wrote, “Cringe.”
And then there was the more philosophical take: “I get she’s going for transgressive, but this is the opposite in this era… she looks dumb.”
Others took it even further, calling the aesthetic “Dumpster humanity.”
But it wasn’t all negative. On the other side of the internet, fans were celebrating her boldness.
“Sabrina is coming for album of the year, artist of the year, pop vocal album — all of it. And I’m here for it,” one person wrote.
Another gushed, “Man’s Best Friend is saving my life and it’s not even out yet.”
“Manchild” Shoots to the Top of the Charts
The controversy around the album art came hot on the heels of Sabrina’s latest single, Manchild, which dropped just last week.
Co-written with pop super-producer Jack Antonoff — a favorite collaborator of Taylor Swift — the track instantly rocketed to number one on both Spotify’s U.S. and Global charts.
The song also sparked curiosity for another reason: Sabrina’s cheeky caption, “This one’s about you!!” which fans interpreted as a not-so-subtle dig at her ex, actor Barry Keoghan.
A Look Back at Her Massive Success
Sabrina’s last album, Short n’ Sweet, came out just under a year ago and marked a major turning point in her career.
It was a commercial and critical triumph — spawning three hit singles (Espresso, Please Please Please, and Taste), all of which joined Spotify’s exclusive Billion Streams Club.
The album sold over 10 million copies worldwide and earned Sabrina six Grammy nominations.
She walked away with two wins: Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Solo Performance for Espresso.
Her Relationship With Barry Keoghan Comes Back Into Focus
Naturally, fans connected the dots between the single Manchild and Sabrina’s recent romantic history — specifically, her high-profile relationship with Barry Keoghan.
The two reportedly started dating in late 2023 and made things red-carpet official at the Met Gala in May 2024.
But by the end of that year, whispers of a breakup started circulating.
Though they were rumored to be on and off for a while, sources confirmed their split happened about a month ago.
Cheating rumors swirled around Barry, though a source told Us Weekly that he was “very devoted to her happiness.”
Ultimately, it seems distance and timing were to blame. With Sabrina’s career exploding and her schedule packed with touring, insiders say it became nearly impossible to keep the relationship alive.
No Bad Blood Between the Two
Despite the speculation and the shade in her lyrics, it doesn’t seem like there’s any major animosity.
One insider shared that the breakup wasn’t dramatic or messy, and that the two have stayed “cordial.”
“They’re just in different places in their lives,” the source explained.
“All the time apart made it really hard to maintain the relationship.”
Sabrina’s Take on Fame, Love, and Music
When asked in a recent Rolling Stone interview if Barry was officially her boyfriend, Sabrina played coy. “How do I skirt around this question?” she joked.
She went on to say, “The dating pool is the pool, and when you meet people that feel authentic and are brilliant and amazing in every way, that’s what you do.”
As for her songwriting, she admitted she puts it all out there: “Obviously, I write songs about exactly how I feel, so I guess I can’t be so surprised that people are interested in who and what those songs are about.”
Her final take? “That’s just something that comes with the territory.”
What’s Next for Sabrina?
With Man’s Best Friend on the way and Manchild topping the charts, Sabrina’s next era is clearly going to be bold, emotional, and unafraid to stir up conversation — whether it’s through her lyrics, her visuals, or her love life.
And judging by the buzz — good, bad, and everything in between — people are definitely watching.