Singer thanks fans, addresses criticism of Man’s Best Friend and declares the world her “f—ing oyster”
Sabrina Carpenter made headlines at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards with a bold acceptance speech that was as fiery as it was heartfelt.
On Sunday, Sept. 7, the 26-year-old pop star took home the award for Best Album for her 2024 project Short n’ Sweet, which produced chart-topping hits including Espresso and Please, Please, Please.
Dressed in full red carpet glam, Carpenter stepped on stage at New York’s UBS Arena to thank her fans and the VMAs, before delivering a candid and unfiltered reflection on her journey as an artist.
“I really don’t take for granted when you guys take the time out of your lives to listen to an album, and if I’m lucky enough that that is my album, I am so grateful,” Carpenter told the crowd, before joking about her prolific career. “Whether that be Short n’ Sweet, this album, or whether that be Man’s Best Friend, my new album, or whether it be one of my 29 before that.”
The speech took a fiery turn when Carpenter dropped an F-bomb while addressing the criticism surrounding Man’s Best Friend. “This world, as we all know, can be so full of criticism and discrimination and negativity. So to get to be a part of something so often, more than not, that is something that can bring you light, make you smile, make you dance and make you feel like the world is your f—ing oyster, I am so grateful, so grateful to do that.”
Carpenter went on to dedicate the award to her cast, dancers, and team, while making sure to recognize the fans who’ve stood by her side. “Most importantly, my fans are just—you’ve been there for me. So thank you.”
The pop sensation also shared words of admiration for her peers: “Every artist here tonight that is nominated, that’s performing, that is just standing here looking amazing, you all mean so much to me and have inspired me so much.”
Addressing Man’s Best Friend Criticism
In recent weeks, Carpenter has faced backlash for her album cover for Man’s Best Friend, which shows her crawling on the floor with a man holding her hair. Critics labeled the imagery “dehumanizing for women,” while others found it “degrading.”
Carpenter, however, remained unapologetic. In an interview with Gayle King on CBS Mornings, she dismissed the criticism, saying: “The album is not for any pearl-clutchers. But I also think that even pearl-clutchers can listen… and find something that makes them smirk and chuckle.”
She also defended her bold lyricism, embracing her music’s unapologetic sexuality and vulnerability. “Sometimes people hear the lyrics that are really bold or they go, ‘I don’t want to sing this in front of other people.’ It’s almost too… TMI. But then you go to a concert, and you see all these young women screaming it with their best friends — and you realize it’s just fun. That’s all it has to be.”
A Career-Defining Moment
This year’s VMAs further cemented Carpenter’s place as one of pop’s most dynamic voices. Her speech balanced humor, defiance, and gratitude — a reflection of her growth as both an artist and performer.
As the applause roared across the UBS Arena, Carpenter left the stage with a smile, proving that whether through controversy or chart-topping hits, she’s more than ready to own her moment.
