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Sabrina Carpenter might be soaking up the sun, but her fans are busy showering her with praise. The 25-year-old pop powerhouse dropped a new Instagram post on Wednesday, July 16, featuring a carousel of dreamy vacation photos ahead of the release of her highly anticipated album Man’s Best Friend, and the internet is officially in a frenzy.

With Fleetwood Mac’s ethereal track Gypsy playing over the post, Carpenter shared a 20-photo dump complete with beachside snaps, effortless fashion, and classic film-camera vibes. Her caption? A minimalist heart emoji. But that didn’t stop fans from obsessing. The post racked up over one million likes in just under two hours, proof that Sabrina’s got the internet eating out of the palm of her hand, even without saying a word.

But let’s not pretend the calm vacation energy has defined this album rollout. Oh no. Carpenter’s latest era has been one of the most chaotic, controversial, and dare we say iconic yet.

The Album Art That Broke the Internet

Back in June, Sabrina officially announced her seventh studio album Man’s Best Friend, set to drop August 29. The excitement was immediate until fans got a look at the artwork.

The original album cover featured Sabrina down on all fours, wearing a tiny black dress and stilettos, while a man stood behind her, gripping a fistful of her hair. Oh no. The aesthetic was bold, provocative, and gave a dominatrix vibe. But fans weren’t sold.

Twitter X was flooded with backlash. Critics accused the cover of playing into the male gaze, calling it “degrading,” “performative feminism,” and a desperate attempt to seem edgy.

“For someone who keeps calling men PIGS she keeps degrading herself to appeal to the male gaze,” one user wrote.

Another added, “Pretending to be this hyper aware, feminist, anti male figure, while your entire artistic identity still revolves around seeking male approval and being desirable to them is… a choice!”

The reactions were harsh. And relentless. It looked like Sabrina Carpenter’s feminist card was being revoked in real time.

Sabrina Claps Back (Twice)

True to form, Sabrina didn’t take the criticism lying down. Instead, she fired back with art.

Soon after the uproar, the Espresso singer dropped an alternate album cover. This version featured a black and white image of her dancing with a man in a suit, a tasteful homage to Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller. Still cheeky, but completely devoid of overt sexuality.

She even joked that the new cover was “approved by God,” a sassy wink to the online pearl clutching.

But the internet wasn’t exactly laughing. Critics pounced again, calling the joke “tone deaf” and accusing her of trivializing the backlash.

Once again, it seemed like Sabrina was in a lose lose situation.

Third Time’s the Charm: The Fan Approved Cover Emerges

Then came a twist. Sabrina dropped a third version. And this time, fans finally gave their stamp of approval.

The newly unveiled special edition cover shows Sabrina solo, lounging in a velvet chair, wearing delicate lingerie, and surrounded by soft, romantic flowers. In her hand? A card with the initials “M.B.F.”, a direct nod to the album’s title. It’s sultry without screaming for attention. Feminine without being submissive. And crucially, no man in sight.

The reaction online was immediate and overwhelmingly positive.

“APPROVED BY THE COMMUNITY,” one fan gushed on X.

Another wrote, “This is probably the best cover.”

“Oh my god, I need this,” said another.

The general consensus? This is the version that should’ve been the original. Fans felt seen, heard, and aesthetically satisfied.

What It All Means for ‘Man’s Best Friend’

While the album itself won’t drop until August 29, Sabrina Carpenter has already pulled off a rare pop culture hat trick. She turned controversy into conversation, criticism into creativity, and fan backlash into redemption, all before anyone’s heard a single new track.

The rollout of Man’s Best Friend is less about one image and more about the larger narrative Carpenter is crafting. One that grapples with womanhood, sexuality, perception, and power. Whether intentional or reactionary, this era is showing fans all the different sides of Sabrina. The playful starlet. The performance artist. The internet savvy icon. And the no nonsense feminist who won’t be boxed in.

The new Instagram vacation post, calm, cool, and virtually captionless, feels like a final exhale before the storm that’s coming. And if the teaser aesthetics and the new cover are anything to go by, Man’s Best Friend is going to be Sabrina Carpenter’s most daring release yet.

Get your coffee, your opinions, and your best Twitter takes ready. August 29 is coming fast.

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