Sabrina Carpenter apologises after insulting fan with ‘weird’ comment at Coachella

Sabrina Carpenter has apologised after sparking backlash for calling a fan’s cultural cheer “weird” during her Coachella set, insisting her reaction was down to confusion

Sabrina Carpenter has been forced to apologise after sparking backlash for comments she made to a fan during her Coachella set.

The 26-year-old singer was performing at the festival in Indio, California, when she paused mid-show after hearing a noise from the crowd. While playing the keyboard, Sabrina appeared confused by the sound and addressed it on stage.

“I think I heard someone yodel,” the Manchild hitmaker said, before adding: “Is that what you’re doing? I don’t like it.” A fan then shouted back that it was “part of my culture” and “a call for celebration”, but Sabrina seemed unconvinced.

“That’s your culture, yodelling? Is this Burning Man? What’s going on? This is weird,” she replied. The moment quickly went viral, with fans branding the star “rude”, “ignorant” and “mean” across social media.

Following the backlash, Sabrina issued a public apology, insisting her reaction had been misunderstood.

Quoting a post from a disappointed fan, she wrote: “My apologies I didn’t see this person with my eyes and couldn’t hear clearly. my reaction was pure confusion, sarcasm and not ill intended. could have handled it better! now I know what a Zaghrouta is! I welcome all cheers and yodels from here on out.”

Despite the controversy, Sabrina continued her set and wowed the crowd with a string of hits including Taste, Please Please Please and We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night.

Earlier in the performance, she had shared her excitement at taking to one of the world’s biggest festival stages. “I can’t believe I’m headlining Coachella! I mean, I can a little bit, but it’s nicer to say that, right?” she told fans.

But online, reactions remained split. Some viewers said the comment left a sour note on an otherwise strong show. “I was actually enjoying the show till this comment. It was really rude,” one fan wrote.

Another added: “She even said, ‘IT’S WEIRD.’ A total lack of respect.” Others, however, defended the singer and suggested she simply couldn’t hear properly from the stage.

“She clearly could not hear the girl speaking. You have to remember she’s all the way up on stage,” one supporter argued.

The awkward moment has not overshadowed what is a huge milestone for Sabrina, who is now headlining one of the most famous music festivals in the world.

The Coachella performance marks a major moment in her career, with the star previously teasing it would be “the most ambitious show I’ve ever done.”

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