Don’t bring your children to a Sabrina Carpenter concert expecting it to be G-rated.
Carpenter has been receiving backlash for simulating sexual acts on stage during her concerts. During the North American leg of Carpenter’s tour for her new album Short n’ Sweet, her erotic bits have left fans divided, with some concert attendees believing it’s inappropriate for a young audience, and others believing she’s on brand.
Parents should do research before bringing their children to a concert— it isn’t Carpenter’s responsibility to censor her dancing or performance when it corresponds with her music. The sexual side of the singer’s brand would be apparent to fans who engage with her music.
Sabrina Carpenter is a 25 year old pop star who unashamedly embraces her sexuality in her music which men in music frequently also do, such as the lyrics to songs created by male rappers and rock stars.
Even Harry Styles, the pop star who is often portrayed as very wholesome, itted on stage that his hit song “Watermelon Sugar” is about the female orgasm, only to be met with booming cheers and syrupy praise showing that the criticism against Carpenter is rooted in misogynistic double standards.
During Carpenter’s sold-out performances, she relishes the sexual innuendos in her music. At the end of her song “Juno,” she performs different sexual positions and, for the outro of her song “Bed Chem”, pretends to get steamy with a man behind a curtain. As the tour has continued, she’s become increasingly more graphic through her sexual choreography—even insinuating she’s performing oral sex using her microphone.
Carpenter often sings about sex, and her choreography simply reflects the messages in her music. In “Bed Chem,” Carpenter’s lyrics have many sexual innuendos like the thermostat being at 69 and manifesting her new man to be “oversized.”
Certain internet reactions indicate some feel that the performance was vulgar and disrespectful, with backlash stating that she should provide warnings before tickets are bought in case children attempt to purchase tickets to the show.
The onus isn’t on Carpenter to adapt her show, and brand, for parents who may unknowingly bring their children to a scandalous concert—which becomes apparent after a simple Google search. Carpenter’s music is far from innocent and wholesome, and her performances aren’t either. This isn’t a bad thing, as Carpenter, and many of her fans are grown adults.
Many of the complaints surrounding Carpenter’s explicitness derive from the fact that she got her start on Disney Channel’s Girl Meets World. The show wrapped years ago, but people continue to view Carpenter as a role model for young children because of her previous gig.
The situation is reminiscent of Miley Cyrus’ controversy in 2013 surrounding her song “Wrecking Ball,” where she stripped naked in the video. This led to extreme backlash, as many believed her to be a role model for young women who looked up to her as children’s TV icon, Hannah Montana.
Clearly, young women who are former Disney stars are held on a very tight leash, expected to continue representing the company’s values even after their careers have evolved.
When asked about her songwriting, Carpenter stated “those real moments where I’m just a 25-year-old girl who’s super horny are as real as when I’m going through a heartbreak and I’m miserable and I don’t feel like a person.” Both experiences that Carpenter addresses are relatable and powerful, worthy of being turned into art for people to see their feelings, and life experiences, represented.
Along with being genuinely witty, Carpenter’s candor about her sexual drive is inspiring, especially considering the taboo that surrounds women’s sexuality, due to a long history of gendered sexual repression. It’s refreshing to see a famous pop star being open about her sexual desires and indulgences. By doing so, she’s combating the stigma that, for young women, a sex drive is something shameful.
The Carpenter controversies reminded me of the iconic popstar Lady Gaga’s clap-back after being criticized similarly in the 2000s. In an interview from 2009, Gaga was asked whether the sexual references in her songs were undermining her music.
Lady Gaga replied saying if she were a man talking about similarly vulgar topics—grabbing her crotch and smoking, discussing having sex with women and fast cars—he’d be a rockstar. However, because she’s a woman and makes pop music, it’s implied that the sexual lyrics in her music are distracting.
Clearly, talking about sex can be risky for female stars, but it shouldn’t be. In music, men’s sex drives and desires are openly acknowledged and accepted. Lady Gaga’s 15-year-old interview is still relevant today symbolizing the ingrained, persistent sexism and double standards within the music industry.
Carpenter should continue, as she’s sparking change for a musical culture that encourages female sexual liberation, rather than one that preaches chastity and repression.
Tags
All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s) in Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be ed, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to [email protected].