(NEXSTAR) – “Manchild” singer Sabrina Carpenter has revealed alternate artwork for her forthcoming album after facing backlash over the original cover.
The earlier artwork for Carpenter’s “Man’s Best Friend,” which is slated for release in August, featured a photo of Carpenter kneeling in front of a man who is holding her hair like a leash. Carpenter debuted the image on social media earlier this month, announcing that “Man’s Best Friend” was available for pre-order.
On social media, some fans said the image was demeaning, while others argued it was satirical.
Sabrina Carpenter performs onstage during the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy) 
Sabrina Carpenter performs onstage at the 67th annual GRAMMY Awards on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy ) 
Sabrina Carpenter attends the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy) 
FILE – Sabrina Carpenter arrives at the 67th annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 2, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) 
Sabrina Carpenter accepts the Song of the Year award for “Espresso” on stage during the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on September 11, 2024 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTV) 
Sabrina Carpenter performs on stage during the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on September 11, 2024 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for MTV) 
Sabrina Carpenter attends the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on September 11, 2024 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage) 
Sabrina Carpenter performs during the 2024 Governors Ball Music Festival at Flushing Meadows Corona Park on June 08, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images) 
Taylor Swift (L) and Sabrina Carpenter perform onstage during night two of The Eras Tour at Caesars Superdome on October 26, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by TAS2024/Getty Images for TAS) 
Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter attend the 2023 Video Music Awards at Prudential Center on September 12, 2023 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for MTV) 
FILE – Sabrina Carpenter performs on the second day of the Lollapalooza Music Festival, Aug. 4, 2023, in Chicago. Carpenter’s use of a Roman Catholic church in Brooklyn as a backdrop for parts of a music video led to a pastor being stripped of his administrative duties after its release and officials holding a Mass to restore the church’s “sanctity.” Carpenter released the video for “Feather” on Oct. 31. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File) 
Sabrina Carpenter performs onstage during the “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour” at Foro Sol on August 24, 2023 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)
“Will be having a conversation with my 9 year old daughter about whether we can continue to support Sabrina’s music,” one follower wrote on Instagram. “Girls already have enough misogynistic imagery to contend with these days.”
“This isn’t satire, this is not empowering to women. You’ve missed the mark by so much hun,” another wrote.
Carpenter had plenty of defenders, however. One argued that the photo was “tame” in comparison “to everything else on the internet,” while a few called it “iconic.”
Carly Simon defends Sabrina Carpenter’s album cover
Carly Simon also came to Carpenter’s defense, telling Rolling Stone that she didn’t see “anything wrong” with the artwork, aside from maybe Carpenter touching the man’s leg. (“I thought she didn’t have to do that,” the “You’re So Vain” singer said.)
“I mean, look at all of the people who dress much more scantily,” Simon told Rolling Stone. “She’s so beautiful, and she should be proud of herself and the way she looks.”
Poking fun at the controversy on Wednesday, Carpenter announced the release of alternate album artwork on social media.
Sabrina Carpenter’s new cover ‘approved by God’
“Here is a new alternate cover approved by God available now on my website,” she wrote. The post included two black-and-white photos, which appeared to be inspired by an image of Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller.
The album, with its alternate cover, is currently available for preorder on Carpenter’s website alongside the standard copy of “Man’s Best Friend” and its more controversial cover art.
Both covers, meanwhile, will be eligible for a new Grammy category honoring best album covers, ironically announced the day after Carpenter revealed the standard “Man’s Best Friend” artwork earlier this month.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.