Sabrina Carpenter Jokes About Provocative Image in ‘SNL’ Monologue: ‘I’m Not Just Horny, I’m Also Turned On and Sexually Charged’

During a recent turn as both host and musical guest on "Saturday Night Live," Sabrina Carpenter kicked off her monologue with a witty deconstruction of her own celebrity persona. She humorously addressed the public's perception of her as a "perpetually horny pop star," a label she simultaneously mocked and embraced. "I'd like to clear up a few things while I have the chance," she stated. "The world sees me one way, but I have so many other dimensions. For example, I'm not just horny—I'm also sexually charged and turned on. And I'm a reader. My favorite book is the encyclopedia; it's huge and very hard to hold..."

The discussion then moved to the controversial cover art for her new album, "Man's Best Friend," which depicts her on all fours with someone pulling her hair. Carpenter feigned bewilderment at the public's interpretation before clarifying that the provocative image was merely a cropped section of a larger scene. The full picture, revealed live, came from the show's 50th-anniversary special and showed cast member Bowen Yang pulling her up by the hair after comedian Martin Short had shoved her out of a buffet line. This kind of meta-humor is a hallmark of "Saturday Night Live," the legendary late-night sketch show launched by Lorne Michaels in 1975, which has been a defining force in American comedy for nearly half a century.

Asserting that a real person exists behind the "sparkles, wigs, and corsets," Carpenter stressed her love for genuine interaction with live audiences. To demonstrate, she engaged an audience member named Will from Maryland, a pairing she found compelling. "Maryland—such a uniquely appealing state. I love talking to regular people; their realness is so captivating," she noted. The moment took an awkward turn, however, when Will revealed his profession in venture capital, prompting Carpenter to swiftly end the conversation. Industry commentators often note that these unscripted audience interactions are among the most perilous parts of hosting, as they demand quick wit to navigate unpredictable responses.

The monologue's finale featured Carpenter confessing that her favorite concert activity was arresting an audience member for being excessively attractive. This bit was interrupted by the entrance of SNL veteran Kenan Thompson—the show's longest-serving cast member, having been a cornerstone since 2003—who arrived with pink handcuffs. He informed her he was placing her under arrest, not for being attractive, but for "falsely impersonating an officer 200 times at your concerts." Thompson then shifted gears, asking for a personalized Cameo video for his daughter. After Carpenter quoted a price of $200,000 and Thompson made his exit, she made a final pitch to the home audience: "If anyone else wants one, you can find me on Venmo." This seamlessly transitioned into a later sketch where Carpenter, alongside cast members, performed parodies of Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga hits while portraying women at a birthday party.