Sabrina Carpenter has sparked significant backlash for her onstage performance during a recent concert in Los Angeles, where she simulated a provocative move that critics have deemed inappropriate. The 25-year-old pop star, who first gained fame as a Disney Channel actress, has since embraced a more mature and edgy persona, which she has showcased throughout her Short n’ Sweet Tour. However, her latest act at the Kia Forum on Monday night has divided her audience and ignited debates on social media about the appropriateness of such performances.
Dressed in a revealing, lingerie-style outfit, Carpenter performed in front of a sold-out crowd. During her song Juno, a track about intense attraction, she dropped to her knees and appeared to simulate oral sex using her microphone. While this isn’t the first time the singer has incorporated s3xually suggestive movements into her act, this particular moment has drawn intense criticism, with many calling it “distasteful” and “vulgar.”
The performance has reignited a broader conversation about the responsibility artists have to their audiences, particularly when they have younger fans. Carpenter, who built her career on Disney Channel’s family-friendly programming, still attracts many fans from that era. Parents have expressed their disappointment, claiming her risqué performances are inappropriate for the children and teens who still attend her concerts.