Pop star Sabrina Carpenter made headlines with her recent performance at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), where she expressed her support for trans rights. The event took place on Sunday night, and Carpenter used the platform to promote her new single, "Tears," from her latest album titled "Man’s Best Friend."
During her performance, Carpenter made a dramatic entrance by emerging from a manhole. She was joined on stage by a group of dancers in drag, including well-known figures from "RuPaul’s Drag Race," such as Honey Balenciaga, Symone, Dashaun Wesley, and Richie Shazam. Colman Domingo, who appears in the music video for "Tears," also participated in the performance.
The dancers held up picket signs with slogans like “protect trans rights,” “In trans we trust,” and “If you hate you’ll never get laid,” a phrase likely referencing Carpenter’s previous single, "Never Getting Laid." This strong visual statement was part of Carpenter’s effort to highlight the importance of trans rights during her performance.
While accepting the award for Best Album later in the evening, Carpenter reflected on her experience, thanking her cast and dancers. She emphasized the power of art to uplift and inspire, especially in a world filled with negativity and discrimination.
However, Carpenter’s bold stance drew criticism online. Some social media users expressed their disapproval, questioning the timing of her performance in light of recent violent incidents involving trans individuals. Comments pointed out the perceived insensitivity of her message, with one user stating, “Right after a trans person shot up a school in Minnesota? This feels insensitive tbh.”
This isn’t the first time Carpenter has faced backlash for her artistic choices. Last November, she was criticized for filming a provocative music video inside a Catholic church, which led to condemnation from the Diocese of Brooklyn.
Carpenter’s performance at the VMAs has sparked a significant conversation about the intersection of art, activism, and public perception, highlighting the ongoing debates surrounding trans rights and representation in the entertainment industry.
