Sabrina Carpenter under fire after 'cruel' Grammys performance
Sabrina Carpenter still has people talking about her performance at the Grammy Awards over the weekend — but this time, it’s not because of a potential tour.
The 26-year-old pocket star took to the stage at the 68th annual awards show on Sunday night, and performed a lively, aviation-themed rendition of Manchild.
The catchy track was released last year, as a single from her seventh studio album, Man’s Best Friend.
Sabrina Carpenter still has people talking about her performance at the Grammy Awards over the weekend — but this time it’s not because of a potential tour. Pic: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
While eagle-eyed fans wondered if the departures board on the stage was a teaser for a potential upcoming tour, another aspect of the performance has had people branding her ‘cruel.’
Dressed as a captain, the stage was transformed into an airport, and Sabrina and the audience belted out the lyrics to the song which many think is in reference to her former Irish boyfriend, Barry Keoghan.
As part of the choreography, Sabrina enters a prop plane, where she then brandishes a white dove.
But one aspect of the performance still have people reeling — as part of the choreography, Sabrina enters a prop plane, where she then brandishes a white dove. Pic: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Naturally, the dove starts flapping, but the singer manages to keep hold of the bird until the end of the performance.
Animal rights organization PETA were quick to condemn the American songstress, taking to X where they branded her ‘stupid [and] cruel.’
‘Did @SabrinaAnnLynn really just bring a bird on stage in 2026?!
‘The Manchild singer is giving childlike behaviour. Leave animals out of the #GRAMMYs.’
The charity shared a picture of Sabrina and the bird, with the writing: ‘Hey Sabrina, bringing a live bird onto a Grammys stage is stupid, slow, useless… and cruel!’
The first three adjectives are in reference to the lyrics in Manchild.
While eagle-eyed fans wondered if the departures board on the stage was a teaser for a potential upcoming tour, another aspect of Sabrina’s Carpenter has had people branding her ‘cruel.’ Pic: Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
PETA added: ‘Bright lights, loud noise, and handling cause fear and distress for a bird who belongs flying free in the open sky.’
Other fans expressed their own dissatisfaction, with one writing: ‘Loved Sabrina Carpenter’s performance, but a HUGE fail for the live dove coming out of the hat!
‘Imagine how stressed that bird was with all that noise and chaos. When will we understand that animals are NOT toys or props?’
Another added: ‘Sabrina is sooooo major but she did not need to subject that dove to all that lol.’
A third shared: ‘Okay but why was Sabrina Carpenter just straight-up abusing a dove on live TV at the Grammys?
‘She pulls this poor bird out of a suitcase during her “Manchild” performance like it’s a magic trick gone wrong… bird looks terrified, wings flapping everywhere, and she just yeets it around for the bit??’
