Sometimes the most controversial moments in music history happen completely by accident, and Carly Simon just shared the delightfully absurd origin story behind her infamous "Playing Possum" album cover – all while defending Sabrina Carpenter against similar criticism she faced 50 years ago.
When Carpenter's "Man's Best Friend" cover sparked debates about female empowerment versus male gaze pandering, Simon stepped forward and told Rolling Stone with perfect perspective: "She's not doing anything outrageous. It seems tame." Coming from someone who literally broke department store policies with her own provocative artwork, that's quite the endorsement.
But here's where the story gets wonderfully ridiculous. Simon's legendary black-and-white cover – featuring her kneeling in black lingerie and boots – started with her baby daughter Sally accidentally shoplifting from Bloomingdale's. "She bent over with me as I bent over to look at something," Simon recalls about browsing undergarments while wearing Sally in a carrier. "It wasn't noticed at checkout."
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The actual photograph happened spontaneously during a shoot with Norman Seeff. When Isaac Hayes' "Theme from Shaft" started playing, Simon couldn't resist dancing. "I ran out and started dancing to it," she explains. The iconic pose captured her transitioning from lying on the floor to standing up. "It wasn't done on purpose. It wasn't a setup."
Seeff himself was surprised by the reaction: "No one thought about what it might convey. It was a fascinating, unique image and it left a lot to the imagination." The controversy that followed feels eerily familiar to Carpenter's current situation – critics debated its meaning, stores considered banning it, and feminists argued over its message.
@brittonraeNumbers don’t have emotion (remember that) #sabrinacarpenter #hottake #manchild #mansbestfriend
♬ Manchild - Sabrina CarpenterSimon's advice to Carpenter reflects hard-earned wisdom: "Any press is good press, so I wouldn't worry about the press. She's so beautiful, and she should be proud of herself and the way she looks."
Related: Disney Star Sabrina Carpenter Strips Down for NSFW Cover
What strikes me most is how Simon's support represents the best of intergenerational female solidarity. She's not just defending Carpenter; she's providing context that only someone who survived identical criticism could offer.
The most powerful defense comes from women who've walked the same controversial path and lived to laugh about accidentally shoplifting the lingerie that started it all.
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