Is Sabrina Carpenter's latest photoshoot inspired by the movie Lolita? Singer responds amid backlash against album cover
Sabrina Carpenter shut down claims that her W Magazine photoshoot referenced Lolita, stating she¡¯s never seen the movie and would never use it as inspiration. Despite ongoing backlash over her image and the Man¡¯s Best Friend album cover, her single Manchild debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Being labelled a pop superstar comes with the territory, but for Sabrina Carpenter, fame hasn¡¯t just brought chart-topping hits and red carpets; it¡¯s also dragged her into the middle of heated controversies, especially when it comes to how she presents herself. Accusations that she's "overly sexualising" her image to appeal to a specific kind of audience have followed her for quite some time now, and now, they¡¯ve sparked fresh backlash.
The latest controversy stemmed from a TikTok-fuelled claim that her new W Magazine photoshoot references the 1997 film adaptation of Lolita, a story notoriously centred on the sexualisation of a young girl. Sabrina has refuted the claims, but the internet's mixed reactions
Sabrina Carpenter denies claims that the photoshoot was inspired by Lolita
As the comparisons started making rounds, most notably a viral post aligning Sabrina¡¯s pose in a grassy field with that of the original Lolita movie poster, the internet was quick to take notes. In the photo, Carpenter wears a simple pale yellow dress, lying on her stomach in the grass with her feet up, eerily similar to the original Lolita promotional image featuring actress Dominique Swain. That resemblance was all some people needed to start drawing conclusions.
But Sabrina was quick to shut it down. In a direct response to one of the viral TikToks, she commented, "I¡¯ve never seen this movie. It¡¯s never been on my mood board and never would be.¡±
Sabrina Carpenter shuts down claims that she referenced ¡®Lolita¡¯ in a W Magazine photoshoot:
¡ª Pop Base (@PopBase) June 17, 2025
¡°I¡¯ve never seen this movie. It¡¯s never been on my mood board and never would be.¡± pic.twitter.com/hSfZoxiD2h
The internet is divided
Despite her clarification, some corners of the internet are refusing to let it go. Many argue that even if it wasn¡¯t intentional, the resemblance is too close to ignore.
One user shared a collage of Sabrina's pictures and stills from the movie, accusing the pop star of copying Lolita for a long time now. "Can Sabrina literally stop referencing the Lolita movie? "It¡¯s not even a coincidence anymore," the user wrote.
Can Sabrina literally stop referencing the Lolita movie? It¡¯s not even a coincidence anymore¡ pic.twitter.com/UlHA2F4J0W
¡ª ? (@_jazllyn) June 17, 2025
Another alleged, "It might not be her doing; it could be the person who took the shot who got inspo from Lolita; either way, all publicity is good publicity."
Might not be her doing it could be the person who took the shot got inspo from lolita, either way all publicity is good publicity
¡ª Alex Moore? (@withlola8) June 17, 2025
Meanwhile, several users also came to her defence, with one arguing, "We¡¯re getting to a point where original ideas are getting harder to come by when every thought is broadcast constantly on the internet." There are going to be similarities to other things just by coincidence. Keep that in mind."
We¡¯re getting to a point where original ideas are getting harder to come by when every thought is broadcasted constantly on the internet. There are going to be similarities to other things just by coincidence. Keep that in mind.
¡ª RIA ? (@demigodlies) June 17, 2025
One person mentioned, "A girl takes a picture lying in the grass, and people immediately jump to the worst conclusions possible."
a girl takes a picture laying in the grass and people immediately jump to the worst conclusions possible
¡ª Scope360 (@Scope360Journal) June 17, 2025
"Not these weirdos imposing their fantasies on her just because she happens to be short," said another user.
Not these weirdos imposing their fantasies on her just bcoz she happen to be short..
¡ª cherry c?ded ? (@plum_chelly) June 17, 2025
Clock it cutiee ?
"Let¡¯s stop assigning meaning where there isn¡¯t any. "She's allowed to just exist in her vibe, lol," one added.
let¡¯s stop assigning meaning where there isn¡¯t any. she¡¯s allowed to just exist in her vibe lol
¡ª domiii ¡î (@horejsiii) June 17, 2025
Backlash against Sabrina's Man's Best Friend album cover
Sabrina Carpenter recently found herself at the centre of another heated debate over the cover of her upcoming album Man¡¯s Best Friend. The image, which shows her on all fours with a man gripping her hair, sparked backlash online, with some accusing her of feeding into the male gaze and calling the visual ¡°regressive¡± and ¡°soft-porn¡±.
But Sabrina, never one to shy away from criticism, clapped back at the noise with her signature confidence. When a commenter asked if she had a personality beyond sex, she simply replied, ¡°Girl, yes, and it is goooooood.¡±
Despite the controversy, the numbers speak for themselves, with her latest single, Manchild, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, proving that fans are here for her bold choices, both musically and visually.
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As an Entertainment Content Writer with 3+ Years of experience, I have been keeping a keen eye on who wore what. A self confessed Koreaboo, I am your fangirl next door. Ps: I take pride in saying that I grew up watching "It's Controversial" as a kid.
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