Sabrina Carpenter's new album, Short 'n' Sweet, has been out for less than 24 hours, and already fans are dissecting every tune for any easter eggs. The strongest theory coming out of the internet is that Sabrina's songs, 'Dumb and Poetic' and 'Coincidence,' are a thinly veiled attack on none other than her ex Shawn Mendes and his on-again off-again girlfriend Camila Cabello.
If you simply had no idea that Sabrina and Shawn ever dated in the first place, you're not alone. The pair kept their short fling pretty under wraps, but lucky for us, people on the internet love to sleuth.
The dating whispers first began to circulate in February 2023, when someone sent in an anonymous tip to gossip account DeuxMoi claiming that the two were spotted on what appeared to be a date at a restaurant in Los Angeles.
The tipster described them as “verrrry comfortable” together, which is basically code for ‘they’re definitely dating’.
Fast forward to late February, and the duo was seen again strolling around LA. By March, they were spotted leaving Miley Cyrus’ album release party together, and the internet was convinced they were an item.
A source confirmed to Entertainment Tonight that they were indeed “seeing each other” and trying to keep things low-key, which is what every young couple says when they’re trying to dodge the paparazzi.
But just when we thought we had a new pop power couple on their hands, Shawn threw a curveball during an interview with RTL Boulevard. He flatly denied dating Sabrina insisting, “We are not dating.”
Understandably, fans were confused AF, especially since Shawn has a history of denying relationships — remember when he said he wasn’t dating Camila Cabello right before they were spotted kissing? I can’t with this man.
Speaking of Camila, it was clear that Shawn and Sabrina were over when the ‘Stitches’ singer and Camila were filmed having a smooch at Coachella in April 2023.
Fans think that Sabrina is shading Camila directly for taking her man so soon after the breakup.
People are pointing out these lyrics as a reference to Camila interfering in Sabrina and Shawn's relationship:
“The second I put my head on your chestShe knew, she’s got a real sixth senseNow her name comes up once, then it comes up twiceAnd without her even bein’ here, she’s back in your lifeNow she’s in the same damn city on the same damn night“
Fans also looked to these lyrics as a blatant call out of Camila and Shawn being spotted kissing at Coachella.
“What a surprise, your phone just diedYour car drove itself from L.A. to her thighsPalm Springs looks nice, but who’s by your side?“
Sabrina has kept a watchful eye on Camila and Shawn's relationship, not so sneakily liking posts of the couple, so it's not a stretch to think the mess of their colliding relationships would give her inspo for her album.
Camila has never addressed Sabrina and Shawn's relationship.
The song Dumb & Poetic is about the worst guy you know — a mansplainer who is obsessed with “self-help books” and loves to “jack off to lyrics by Leonard Cohen”. Unfortunately for Shawn, the internet thinks the song is about him.
The lyrics, “I promise the mushrooms aren’t changing your life,” are speculated to be a callout to Shawn, who has been open about his use of psychedelics and learning about holistic practices.
He told his concert-goers at a London show, “There were all these crazy articles [about] me joining a cult and me joining a wizard society.” Shawn laughed before admitting he had “tried mushrooms” to gain a new view on his life.
“I thought about some of these relationships, how some of them were the shortest I’ve ever had and they affected me the most, and I thought about the way that I respond to situations,” Sabrina told Zane Lowe. “Sometimes it is very nice, and sometimes it’s not very nice.”
She continued: “Hence songs like Dumb & Poetic, a gentle acoustic ballad that's also a blistering takedown of a guy who masks his sleazy tendencies with therapy buzzwords and highbrow record collection.”
There are a couple of people who think the song could also be about Joshua Basset who has also talked about his experiences on mushrooms. A man with a guitar who says mushrooms ‘change his life’ — groundbreaking.
Whoever the song is about, I’d go into hiding for the duration of this album run if I were you.
Anywho, I’m gonna go dissect the rest of the album because with a Mother like Taylor Swift, there is sure to be many more easter eggs within Short 'n' Sweet.
Sabrina Carpenter’s album Short n' Sweet is making waves, and not just for its catchy tunes. Fans on Reddit are buzzing with speculation that the singer might be subtly calling out Camila Cabello in her track “Coincidence” for allegedly seducing Shawn Mendes while he was still in a relationship with Carpenter. The lyrics of the song hint at a betrayal, leading listeners to believe that it could be a reference to the rumored love triangle involving the three stars.
In addition to “Coincidence,” another track from the album, “Dumb & Poetic,” has caught the attention of fans who think it alludes to Shawn Mendes' behavior. The lyrics suggest that someone close to Carpenter might have been less than honorable, leading to further speculation that Mendes is the subject of the song.
The rumored connection between the three artists dates back to when Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello were publicly seen together, sparking rumors of a romantic relationship. At the time, Mendes was believed to be involved with Sabrina Carpenter, though neither Mendes nor Carpenter confirmed the relationship.
Carpenter’s fans have taken to social media to dissect the lyrics, looking for clues that might confirm their theories. While neither Carpenter, Mendes, nor Cabello have publicly commented on the speculation, the ongoing buzz has undoubtedly fueled interest in Carpenter’s album, with many eager to decode the meaning behind her words.
Whether these tracks are a direct reference to the rumored drama or simply creative expressions of heartbreak and betrayal, the intrigue surrounding them has added an extra layer of depth to Carpenter's music, making her latest album a must-listen for fans and pop culture enthusiasts alike.
