Former Disney star turned singer and performer Sabrina Carpenter has been on her “Short n’ Sweet Tour” since 2024.
There’s no denying that the artist has definitely paved the way in growing her career as she started to delve into much more mature themes, and while most fans love this for her, some fans are still seemingly confused with the memo that she is no longer the same teenager we’ve watched in the 2014 sit-com, “Girl Meets World.”
The 25-year-old popstar had been consistently criticized for the “explicit” and characterized “inappropriate” themes of her concert, especially during her number for the song “Juno” where she enacts a certain position (usually done in the bedroom) and asks the audience “have you ever tried this one?” Critics have also noted that Carpenter’s songs contained innuendos that were “too suggestive” and not kid-friendly.
In light of this, it is also apparent that most of these critics are parents who strongly think so, taking to their social media accounts, writing, “We need better role models for children,” one tweeted on X (formerly Twitter). Another added, “I’m sorry but there are little kids in the audience and this is taking it way too far.”
Many of the singer’s supporters came to her defense against these arguments, reiterating that the tour was most definitely not a kid’s show in the first place, and further questioned why these parents weren’t as proactive in learning the artist’s lyrics and concert segments before attending the performance. Fans also advocated on normalizing the fact that sex was a normal topic, but is just unfortunately perceived as a taboo idea for many.
One user wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “I’m sorry but she’s grown! she makes grown music if you actually listen. Don’t let your kids listen or attend a concert if you’re gonna be mad she’s doing grown things to her grown music.”
Carpenter didn’t address the backlash until her most recent show in Paris, where she once again faced criticism for striking the “Eiffel Tower” position—described as “a crude three-way act”—while performing her track “Juno.”
Sabrina Carpenter shows off new “Juno” position at night 2 of her Paris show. pic.twitter.com/j4YOD7XtUi
— Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) March 17, 2025
Despite the consistent efforts of her critics to counter her artistic direction for her tour, the artist has always been clear about her vision and style in pursuing her shows. As per The Sun back in January 2025, the performer voiced, “My message has always been clear— if you can’t handle a girl who is confident in her own sexuality, then don’t come to my shows.” She added, “Female artists have been shamed forever. In the Noughties it was Rihanna, in the Nineties it was Britney Spears, in the Eighties it was Madonna— and now it’s me.”
Carpenter clapped back at the regressive attitude and claimed that her critics failed to acknowledge all the positive elements in her work which was quite a let-down. The singer noted, “It’s essentially saying that female performers should not be able to embrace their sexuality in their lyrics, in the way we dress, in the way we perform.”
The popstar closed off with a powerful sentiment on women’s empowerment, especially in supporting each other in the face of such attitudes.
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