‘SNL’ Cold Open Brings Back ‘Domingo’ Sketch as Sabrina Carpenter Addresses Album Cover Flap

New York, Sunday, October 19, 2025: Pop star Sabrina Carpenter hosted and performed on Saturday Night Live this weekend. The show started with a familiar sketch. Fans saw the return of the viral character, Domingo, in the cold open.

Later, Carpenter used her opening monologue to address the controversy over her album cover.

The Return of the Viral ‘Domingo’

The show kicked off with a new chapter in the popular “Domingo” sketch. The original skit became a huge hit. It featured bridesmaids singing off-key.

They were singing a song about a friend’s affair with a man named Domingo. The new sketch was another hit with the studio audience.

The character Domingo is played by cast member Marcello Hernández. The original sketch used a parody version of Carpenter’s hit song “Espresso.” It has been one of SNL’s most-watched sketches on social media. The show has brought it back multiple times because it is so popular.

Carpenter herself was part of the fun in the new cold open. This appearance further tied her to the beloved recurring SNL skit. The new sketch was also a good way to start the show with a laugh.

Carpenter Pokes Fun at Album Cover Controversy

During her opening monologue, Sabrina Carpenter quickly talked about the backlash over her new album’s cover. The album is called Man’s Best Friend. The cover art shows Carpenter kneeling on all fours. A cropped, unseen figure is standing over her and holding her hair.

When the cover was first released months ago, it caused a stir. Many people online felt the image was degrading to women. Some critics said it gave in to the “male gaze.” Others argued it was a bad kind of satire.

Carpenter used her time on SNL to clear things up and make a joke about the situation. She joked that people didn’t understand the full picture. She said the controversial image was cropped.

She then showed a “zoomed-out” version of the cover. This fake full picture included the missing cast member Bowen Yang. She joked that Yang was simply helping her up after a shove at a buffet.

This humorous response made the audience laugh. It showed Carpenter’s willingness to address the internet debate head-on. She told the audience she was setting the record straight.

She also joked about other misconceptions. The singer stated in her monologue, “I’m not just horny. I’m also turned on.”

The Bigger Picture

Before her SNL appearance, Carpenter had explained the cover’s intent in interviews. She called the image a “metaphor.” She said it was meant to be playful and cheeky.

She explained the photo was supposed to represent the feeling of being completely devoted to someone. She said it was about “getting myself here, here I am, this is someone I love, but also someone that emotionally can be doing a lot with my heart and doing a lot with my emotions.”

The return of the Domingo sketch with Carpenter, and her response to the cover controversy, prove something important. Pop culture is always talking about itself. A viral comedy skit can become a big part of a singer’s image.

At the same time, an album cover can spark serious and humorous debates about women’s bodies and power. Carpenter showed she can handle both. She is using her sense of humor to control her own story.

The viral “Domingo: Vow Renewal – SNL50” sketch is relevant because the recent Saturday Night Live cold open was a reprise of the popular recurring “Domingo” sketches.