Sabrina Carpenter has responded after a moment from her Coachella performance sparked backlash online. The singer faced criticism after reacting to a sound made by someone in the crowd during her set.
In the viral clip, Carpenter appears confused after hearing a loud ululating sound, sometimes known as a zaghrouta. She asked the crowd if someone was yodelling and said she did not like it, before the fan shouted back that it was part of their culture.
The exchange quickly spread online, with some people accusing the singer of being disrespectful. Others said she did not understand what she was hearing and was simply caught off guard during the performance.
Carpenter has now addressed the moment on X. She wrote: “My apologies I didn’t see this person with my eyes and couldn’t hear clearly.”
She added: “My reaction was pure confusion, sarcasm and not ill intended.” The singer also admitted she “could have handled it better” and said she now knows what a zaghrouta is.
Carpenter ended her statement by saying she welcomes “all cheers and yodels” from now on. Her response has drawn mixed reactions, with some praising her for apologising and others saying the damage was already done.
Some fans defended her and said the moment was clearly a misunderstanding. Others, including people from Arab and Middle Eastern backgrounds, said they were not offended and felt she simply did not recognise the sound.
Still, not everyone accepted the explanation. Critics said her reaction on stage came across badly, even if she did not mean harm. The debate has now become one of the most talked-about moments from her Coachella performance.
