Fans Say Sabrina Carpenter’s VMAs Performance Officially Makes Her an ‘Icon’
Sabrina Carpenter’s recent performance at the VMAs is still making waves online. The “Espresso” singer took the stage at the awards show to perform her new song, “Tears.” Fans have said that Carpenter’s visually compelling performance, nods to other pop stars, and activism seriously impressed them.
Sabrina Carpenter performed at the VMAs
On Sunday, Sept. 7, Carpenter performed at the VMAs. At the start of her performance, she emerges from a manhole onto a stage decorated to look like a city street. She joined her backup dancers and a group of drag queens, including Drag Race alums. Throughout the song, the performers held up signs with messages such as “Support local drag” and “Protect trans rights.”
Towards the end of the performance, Carpenter stopped to dance in the rain in what appears to be a reference to an iconic Britney Spears performance.
Sabrina Carpenter fans have praised her VMAs performance
Carpenter is currently riding high after the release of her Billboard-topping album Man’s Best Friend, and the VMA performance has only added to her recent success. While the cover of Man’s Best Friend was divisive, even amongst her fans, people seemingly only have good things to say about her VMA performance.
“She is such an icon,” wrote one Reddit user.
“This performance was arguably the best one this year,” wrote another person. “It was so well done and interesting to watch.”
Many people appreciate the reverence to pop culture history she showed in her nod to Spears. For the most part, though, people have appreciated Carpenter’s unambiguous support of trans rights, particularly in this political climate.
“She knows the spotlight is on her right now,” wrote one person. “She’s a big part of the pop culture conversation at the moment and this is how she’s choosing to use her platform. Lots of respect for that.”
People acknowledged that Carpenter likely knew she would face some level of backlash and still chose to make a statement.
“She ate this performance up!! I have so much respect for Sabrina for showing support to the trans and queer community, especially in the time we’re in right now,” added another person. “We need more celebs like her willing to show some backbone and speak up.”
She spoke about advocating for trans rights at the awards show
Carpenter won Best Album that night. In her acceptance speech, she thanked the queens who just performed with her.
“To my queens: This world, as we all know, can be so full of criticism and discrimination and negativity,” she said. “So to get to be part of something so… more often than not, that can bring you light, make you smile, make you dance, and make you feel like the world is yours… I’m so grateful. So grateful to do that.”
Over the past year, Carpenter’s charitable fund has raised over $1 million for mental health advocacy, LGBTQ+ rights, and animal welfare.
