Sabrina Carpenter is riding a high after headlining Lollapalooza with a dreamy, crowd-roaring performance that featured legends Earth, Wind & Fire and a surprise cameo from K-pop icons TWICE. But just hours after the lights dimmed in Chicago, the pop princess pivoted the spotlight to her next big moment, unveiling the exclusive Spotify picture disc for her upcoming album Man’s Best Friend, due out August 29.
The vinyl features Carpenter lounging on a grassy field in a vintage-inspired sundress, soft sunlight draping her like an early 2000s Polaroid dream. It’s the kind of aesthetic her fans have come to adore: feminine, playful, and slightly retro. But as with nearly everything on the internet, the images sparked an immediate and fiery debate.
Social Media Reacts: From “Lolita Aesthetic” Claims to Fierce Defenses
Almost instantly, fans and critics alike took to Twitter with clashing opinions about the visual direction. Some accused the singer of leaning too far into controversial territory, while others rushed to defend her.
One user tweeted, “The lolita aesthetics…” while another rebutted, “I know touching grass is an odd concept to most of yall but that doesn’t mean she’s referencing lolita”
Another fan chimed in with, “Sorry but if you find this provocative or revealing in any way, then YOU are the problem,” echoing a sentiment that many felt that the accusations said more about the audience than the artist.
Others pointed to recurring themes in Carpenter’s visuals: “She’s referencing lolita again even though she knows the character is a 14 year old girl lol disgusting.” Another user added, “Always using the Lolita nachos but she denies it LMAOOOOOO.”
But perhaps the most cutting responses came from those defending Carpenter’s agency and intent. “At this point we need to get weirded out at the people who automatically think of lolita when Sabrina does anything. Maybe yall are the ones obsessed with it.” And in the same vein: “We’ll have to open the melon of why every time you see a girl on the grass you think of a pedophilia story instead of absolutely nothing, which is normal.”
Post-Lolla Glow: A Pop Star Who Knows Her Power
The controversy hasn’t seemed to shake Carpenter in the slightest. On Instagram, just hours after the reveal, she poured her heart out about the Lollapalooza performance that marked a milestone in her career.
“Lollapalooza🤍 I just kept looking into that sea of a crowd thinking how lucky I am to sing for you,” she wrote. “Getting to bring out the legendary @earthwindandfire who have raised me on the greatest songs of all time, true soul-moving timeless music — that was and will always be one of my favorite memories of my life!”
She also gave love to TWICE, who appeared onstage and were humorously “arrested” as part of the show’s playful choreography: “My beautiful Juno arrestees who I’ve been fans of for the longest time @twicetagram 🥲 I love you girls!”
Rounding out the post was a heartfelt shoutout to her band, dancers, and crew: “I am so grateful to them and so grateful to Chicago for the turnout and that popcorn you guys are famous for. I love you so so much. Performing is my favorite thing in the world.”
What to Expect on August 29th
If Lollapalooza and the picture disc are any indicators, Man’s Best Friend promises to be an era-defining record for Carpenter. Fans are already speculating about themes of friendship, identity, and feminine power, all wrapped in the nostalgic-meets-modern aesthetic she’s mastered.
Despite the controversy, one thing is clear: Sabrina Carpenter is unapologetically steering her vision. And love her or not, she knows how to command the conversation.
August 29 can’t come soon enough.
