Sabrina Carpenter Faces Backlash from Rina Sawayama over SNL Performance

Rina Sawayama says “Shoes on tatami is jail” while pointing out cultural mistake in Sabrina Carpenter’s SNL act

Sabrina Carpenter Faces Backlash from Rina Sawayama over SNL Performance
Credit: Shutterstock

A recent Saturday Night Live performance by Sabrina Carpenter got people talking, but not for the reasons she expected. The pop star is now facing criticism from Rina Sawayama, who called out a cultural mistake in one of the performances of Sabrina.

During her song “Nobody’s Son,” Sabrina performed on a stage designed like a Japanese martial arts dojo. The setup was looking great. However, there was one big issue in it. She and her dancers were wearing shoes on tatami mats, and it is extremely disrespectful in Japanese culture.

 

Rina Sawayama is half Japanese. She took to Instagram to share her thoughts. “Big love to Sabrina,” she wrote with a heart emoji, “but if we’re referencing a culture, please do it with research, respect, and care.” She also added a short but clear line that is now viral across social media, and that line is “Shoes on tatami is jail.”

Sabrina was the host as well as the musical guest that night, performing songs from her new album, Man’s Best Friend. Her other performance, “Manchild,” was fun and exciting. However, when she performed “Nobody’s Son,” it quickly became a topic of debate.

Neither Sabrina nor SNL has made a comment on it yet, but social media fans are divided. Some supported Rina and said that artists should be more careful. On the other hand, others commented that it was just an artistic choice and not a big deal.

Rina Sawayama has always talked about cultural respect. She has done it before, including when she called out The 1975’s Matty Healy for making racist comments. Her message this time was simple and clear. If you are inspired by another culture, treat it with respect.

Jacob Elordi Promises a Totally Different Euphoria Season 3

Jacob Elordi Promises a Totally Different Euphoria Season 3