Sabrina Carpenter recently addressed the backlash surrounding the risqué lyricism in her newly released seventh album, Man’s Best Friend. She believes her Disney fame plays a major role in the criticism she’s receiving. According to her, many people still associate her with her childhood role as Maya Hart in Girl Meets World. They therefore struggle to see her beyond that image.
Sabrina Carpenter addresses NSFW lyrics backlash
In an interview with Variety, Carpenter explained that much of the backlash over her NSFW lyrics stems from her history as a Disney star. She shared that many people still perceive her as a “childhood figure.” Therefore, it is making it difficult for them to separate her current artistic identity from the one she built during her time with Disney. She said, “I think it wouldn’t matter so much if I weren’t a childhood figure for some people, but I also can’t really help that. It’s not my fault that I got a job when I was 12, and you won’t let me evolve.”
Carpenter recalled that, growing up, she had seen female artists sing NSFW songs. She also noted that it never pressured her to grow up or get influenced quickly. She understands her younger fans’ concerns, as her own childhood wasn’t that long ago. However, she believes they can take what they understand in her lyrics and leave the rest for when they grow up. “I always thought, ‘When I grow up, then I get to embrace my sexuality more. I don’t even know what that means yet!’ I don’t think they do. I wish I’d had more open conversations about all of it when I was younger, but people feel too scared to talk about it,” she explained.
Explaining how she’s dealing with the criticism, the popstar added, “People think, ‘Oh, she’ll say and do anything.’ No. I really do have boundaries with myself — you’d be surprised! I’m just actually living my life, and you’re watching. If you don’t like it, it’s not for you. If you do like it, let’s play.” Additionally, she shared that she wants to enjoy her life freely without holding back and do things that she likes. She further explained, “I wore the skirts I wanted to wear; I spoke about things in a way that I won’t regret, because I was very open. I think that’s all that matters.”
