Sabrina Carpenter Faces Backlash Over Mental Health Lyric: ‘Damaging’

Sabrina Carpenter has been accused of insensitivity after a lyric in her new album referenced wishing agoraphobia upon someone.

The 26-year-old released her seventh studio album Man’s Best Friend on August 29 and it has quickly dominated the charts, with fans enjoying Carpenter’s trademark playful country-pop style and tongue-in-cheek lyrics. Yet one track, “Never Getting Laid,” has struck a sour note for some.

Newsweek reached out to Sabrina Carpenter’s publicists for comment via email outside of their usual working hours.

On the ethereal and unapologetic song about an ex’s unpredictable behavior and wishing revenge upon them. Carpenter sings: “I just hope you get agoraphobia some day.”

For many, the line is a witty jab. For others, it crosses into ableist territory.

Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder in which a person fears and actively avoids places or situations—like public transportation, crowded spaces, open areas, or lines—because they may trigger panic or feelings of being trapped, helpless, or embarrassed.

This is not the first time Carpenter has courted with controversy. The pop icon is known for her tongue-in-cheek and sexual bombshell persona which is no stranger to turning heads or making headlines.

Many called out her sexualized album artwork, the singer being dragged across the floor by her hair—a choice some say promotes regressive gender stereotypes.

In a recent interview with CBS Mornings, when asked about the backlash she said: “Y’all need to get out more.”

The “Espresso” singer revealed she was “shocked” by the negative reaction, and defended her choice by explaining her vision of the artwork, for which she welcomes interpretation, as the dichotomy of being a young woman, both in and out of control.

She also came under scrutiny for the track “Manchild,” with critics labeling the lyric: “Stupid, or is it slow? Maybe it’s useless?” as ableist.

‘Not a Quirky Word to Throw Around’

Lucy McKenna (@panicwithlucy), 26, mental health advocate and founder of Nurture Space, a mental health support community, lives with a panic disorder and agoraphobia.

She shared her frustration at what she described as the “weaponization of a mental health condition to wish revenge on an ex.” Her video garnered almost 175,000 views on TikTok.

“Agoraphobia took so much from my life, and I never want anyone else to feel invalidated in their struggle. My issue isn’t with the music, but with how people’s reactions can dismiss what is a very real condition,” she told Newsweek.

She said agoraphobia was “not a quirky word to throw in a song lyric or a TikTok trend” but a life-altering disorder that isolates people from loved ones and the outside world.

In her video, McKenna explained that she developed agoraphobia after a panic disorder and felt Carpenter’s lyric “wasn’t very artsy and wasn’t very cute.”

She warned that using the condition casually could encourage people to misunderstand or misdiagnose themselves, spreading misinformation online.

“The positive side is that conversations like this, even if difficult, can bring more awareness and understanding,” she said.

Mixed Reactions Online

Not everyone shared McKenna’s concerns. Some fans defended Carpenter’s creative choice in the comments section, suggesting critics were overreacting.

“The whole point is that she hopes his life is ruined? I don’t think it’s that deep,” said Chloe.

“At the end of the day if you’re triggered by it, you’re triggered by it. That’s also not anyone else’s problem,” said Aoibhin.

Another listener, Lena, added: “I struggled hard with agoraphobia, but in my opinion this isn’t such a huge deal. It was the worst but I can see how you could wish this upon somebody lol. Getting triggered by the word alone is a whole problem on its own.”

Mental Health Experts Weigh In

Mark Rowland, chief executive at the Mental Health Foundation, told Newsweek that many people with lived experience of anxiety or agoraphobia would find such a lyric “unpleasant and cruel,” given its trivialization of trauma.

However, he stressed that the greater societal harms to mental health stem from structural issues like financial insecurity, discrimination, and political commentators dismissing such conditions—not pop lyrics.

“Ultimately, we all have a responsibility to use sensitive language when it comes to mental health conditions. Given the role pop culture has historically played in driving mental health stigma, promoting sensitivity, kindness and understanding is even more important for figures like Sabrina Carpenter,” he said.

Yuki Shida, a licensed marriage and family therapist, specializing in intergenerational trauma, echoed that concern, noting that agoraphobia cases have increased in recent years due to factors like the pandemic and ongoing social pressures.

While she acknowledged that pop culture references to psychology have helped normalize conversations around therapy, she warned that using clinical terms without context risks misinformation and harm.

“It is my hope that Sabrina Carpenter fans will use this opportunity to learn about agoraphobia and seek professional help if they identify with this condition,” she told Newsweek.

Elizabeth DeVaughn, a licensed psychotherapist and supervisor in Nashville, told Newsweek the lyric was not only harmful but “ableist.”

“Casual comments like this—especially used for humor—further minimize the severe struggles people have with conditions like agoraphobia. People living with disabilities are already belittled; further dismissal is very damaging,” she said.

Eliana Bonaguro, a licensed mental health counselor specializing in anxiety disorders, told Newsweek that misconceptions run deep.

“Agoraphobia isn’t just about ‘never leaving the house,'” she explained, but can involve panic in grocery store aisles, fears of fainting or losing control in public, or derealization that makes the world feel unreal. She said Carpenter’s lyric risks turning such experiences into a joke.

Still, Bonaguro noted that for some listeners, hearing the word “agoraphobia” for the first time could spark curiosity, awareness, and even compassion.

“Behind the diagnosis are people who show quiet courage every day by going to a school play, walking into a crowded supermarket, or simply stepping outside despite overwhelming fear. By raising awareness we create space for understanding and support,” she said.