The incident, which dominated headlines in 2021, saw Carpenter portrayed as the “other woman” after rumours surfaced that actor Joshua Bassett had broken up with Rodrigo to date her.

While the drama once consumed social media, Sabrina, now better known for her music career and 2024 album Short n’ Sweet, no longer dwells on the past. In a recent Rolling Stone cover story, Carpenter shared how the ordeal shaped her outlook.

“All I knew was that it wasn’t going to stop me from doing what I loved, ever,” Carpenter explained. “That’s kind of how I’ve always felt. Sometimes, it’s about how you are able to be resilient.”

She added, “What that era taught me was to just trust myself, and trust that everything is going to work out the way it’s supposed to, and trust that relationships are put into your life for a reason.”

Carpenter also revealed that she doesn’t think about the “Drivers License” drama at all anymore. She emphasised the importance of moving forward and not getting bogged down by negativity or public opinion.

With her upcoming album Man’s Best Friend set to release in August 2025, Carpenter continues to break new ground in her career, proving her resilience in the face of past challenges.