Sabrina Carpenter has dealt with her fair share of man-children in her life.
And with others having stayed in her good graces, the "Espresso" singer reflected on how these experiences have left her with a complicated perspective.
"I do think that men have been a super entertaining species to watch," Sabrina told Vogue Italia in an interview published Sept. 23, translated to English. "In positive and negative ways. I feel really adored and inspired and loved by some of them… and really confused and attacked and ridiculed by others."
That level of public opinion, magnified with the Grammy winner's catapult to fame, has forced Sabrina to find different ways to cope with those dynamics.
"In life, you have to be able to take the moments that make us uncomfortable lightly, or at least that's true for me," she explained. "All my life, I've thought that's what humor is all about. In addition to saving me, this kind of wit has been a filter that has ensured my protection for the future."
Don't get it twisted: Despite Sabrina's complicated opinion on men, she celebrates the arrival of baby boys.
"When one of my female friends announces that she's having a son, I just rejoice for that young boy," she explained. "Because I know he's going to be raised right."
She teased, "Correct me if I'm wrong, I've only been on Earth for 26 years, but I feel like we've always kind of had to train them. Unfortunately, it's a tale as old as time."
Throughout her years in the spotlight, Sabrina—who split from ex Barry Keoghan last December after a year of dating—hasn't shied away from sharing her thoughts, both in interviews and in her songs.
For instance, the singer emphasized that she's "not scared of men" who might not want to pursue a relationship with her out of fear of becoming a song's subject. (Fans have speculated that Barry inspired her tracks "Manchild" and "Bed Chem.")
"I feel pretty transparent going into any of my relationships, that I write songs," she explained on CBS Mornings earlier this month, adding of her romantic interests, "Most of the times they have been pretty flattered when they get a song about them, good or bad. I think they're just excited to get a shoutout."
"I think I will attract exactly who I'm supposed to attract," she continued. "I think it's good to know I intimidate someone and they come closer. I think that means I'm dealing with something that is at least mentally strong enough to surpass some of that emotional immaturity."
For more of Sabrina's no-nonsense opinions, please, please, please keep reading.
Talkin’ Nonsense
Not everyone is a fan of Sabrina Carpenter’s love for lace and provocative lyrics. In fact, music producer Pete Waterman labeled the “Nonsense” singer’s live shows as downright “offensive.”
“They’ve won all of their freedoms and their rights, women,” Waterman said in January 2025. “They fought for everything they’ve got, and now they’re throwing it away, is the way I would look at it.”
And in her response, the Girl Meets World alum did not hold back.
“My message has always been clear,” Sabrina said in an interview with The Sun on Sunday, “if you can’t handle a girl who is confident in her own sexuality, then don’t come to my shows.”
“Female artists have been shamed forever,” she continued. “In the noughties it was Rihanna, in the nineties it was Britney Spears, in the eighties it was Madonna—and now it’s me.”
Can’t Blame a Girl for Clapping Back
To the critics calling Sabrina’s renowned “Juno” poses and raunchy lyrics “lazy,” Sabrina countered their “totally regressive” opinions.
“It’s essentially saying that female performers should not be able to embrace their sexuality in their lyrics, in the way we dress, in the way we perform,” the pop star explained to The Sun. “It’s like those who want to shame don’t make comments when I talk about self-care or body positivity or heartbreak, which are all normal things a 25-year-old goes through. They just want to talk about the sexual side of my performances.”
She’s Working Late, ‘Cause She’s a Singer
During Sabrina’s Short n’ Sweet Tour, critics on social media shared their suspicions that the “Espresso” singer was lip-syncing during her shows.
"Hate to say it," one person wrote in an October 2024 TikTok video, "but 30 percent lip singing [sic] 30 percent backing track [and] 40 percent singing."
The Disney alum, however, was quick to shoot down the claims.
"I sing live at every show 100 percent," Sabrina declared in the comments. "Would you like to speak to my audio engineers?"
Keeping it Short n’ Sweet
It doesn’t take many words for the Grammy nominee to silence her haters.
In June 2024, a keyboard warrior shared their disapproval of Sabrina’s hit single “Please Please Please.”
“I don’t think I've ever seen someone fumble a second single this hard,” the user wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “my goodness.”
But as soon as the tune reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, she posted side-by-side screenshots of the rankings alongside the comments with the caption, “ohhhh I’m a grateful grateful grateful girl.”
It’s Funny and It’s Ironic
After receiving backlash for her iconic “Feather” music video filmed in the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Williamsburg, Brooklyn—which she had received permission from the church to film in—Sabrina’s story differed from the one Msgr. Jamie J. Gigantiello told in his official statement.
“The parish did not follow diocesan policy regarding the filming on Church property,” the parish’s then-pastor said in his November 2023 statement, “which includes a review of the scenes and script.”
But Sabrina refuted his claims with one simple sentence.
“We got approval in advance,” Sabrina quipped to Variety at the time, “and Jesus was a carpenter.”
What a Coincidence
While onstage at NYC’s Madison Square Garden in September 2024, Sabrina alluded to her “Feather” music video scandal having played a part in New York mayor Eric Adams’ federal investigation at the time. The pastor that approved Sabrina’s “Feather” music video—though he said he was “not aware” of its inappropriate content—was demoted, leading to “broader administrative review” of the parish.
In their review, the diocese told the New York Post that they may have found a connection between the Parish and Adams involving business dealings between the pastor and senior figures within Adams’ embattled administration. (The mayor was charged with bribery and wire fraud scheme in the ongoing case, to which he has pleaded not guilty.)
And to that, Sabrina said, "Should we talk about how I got the mayor indicted or…”