Pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter delivered an unexpected festive treat to her fans, releasing a new version of her track 'Man's Best Friend' complete with a bonus song on Christmas Eve.
A Festive Surprise for Fans
The 26-year-old singer unveiled 'Man’s Best Friend (Bonus Track Version)', which features the previously unheard song 'Such a Funny Way'. She accompanied the drop with a lyric video, describing the track as a ditty she is 'so proud of' and one she always felt belonged in the same musical universe as 'Man's Best Friend'.
Addressing her followers on social media, Carpenter framed the emotional release as a holiday gift, stating she didn't want them to 'wait too long' to hear it. She thanked listeners for embracing her music, calling the moment a 'cathartic Christmas crashout' and hinting that more new material is on the horizon.
Lyrics Hint at Heartbreak and Mystery
The new bonus track, 'Such a Funny Way', delves into the turmoil of a one-sided relationship. Carpenter sings pointed lyrics like, 'You have such a funny way of sayin' “I love you” / Forgettin’ me more every day.' She continues to skewer a former lover with lines such as, 'My sweater from the night we met… you said, “Don’t contact me again,”' and 'Funny everybody knows something that I don’t.' The song builds to a poignant climax where she admits, 'I have to laugh just so I don’t cry.'
This surprise release came just days after a telling appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers. During the interview, the host pressed Carpenter on which of her exes inspired her recent hit 'Manchild'—a subject of intense fan speculation. Rather than answering, the singer coolly grabbed a beer and took a long sip on camera, letting the moment—and the mystery—speak for itself.
The Barry Keoghan Speculation
Speculation about the subject of her songs has largely centred on her ex, actor Barry Keoghan. The pair began dating in December 2023 and went public at the Met Gala in May 2024. While reports suggested they had split by December, other sources indicated an on-again, off-again dynamic strained by demanding schedules.
Carpenter first set the internet alight in June when she appeared to take a thinly veiled swipe at Keoghan while teasing 'Manchild'. She shared a vintage-inspired teaser with the caption: 'this one’s about you!!' She further fuelled rumours by posting a lyric: 'Inside of your head when you’ve just won an argument with a man.'
Fans and even the dating app Grindr quickly linked the song to Keoghan, with comments flooding in like, 'DRAG HIM BABE WE CAN’T WAIT,' and 'Oh Barry u are so over.' One fan referenced her earlier work, writing, 'he didn’t listen when you wrote please please please, so he deserves this song,' alluding to a previous track that featured Keoghan in its music video.
When previously asked by Rolling Stone about referring to Keoghan as her boyfriend, Carpenter coyly replied, 'How do I skirt around this question?' She added, 'Obviously, I write songs about exactly how I feel, so I guess I can’t be so surprised that people are interested in who and what those songs are about.'
Insiders have stated the breakup was due to conflicting schedules and that there was 'no bad blood' between them. With her career exploding, sources noted Carpenter was being pulled in 'so many directions', leaving little time to maintain a relationship.
