'Sabrina Carpenter's latest SNL performance is under fire. And this time I actually agree.'

Sabrina Carpenter has — once again — found herself at the centre of controversy following her latest performance on SNL. 

During her performance of her hit song 'Nobody's Son', Carpenter put on some sort of karate-inspired set, sporting a bedazzled karate gi (sans any pants) on a dojo-style stage. Why? I'm still not really sure how it connects. 

And I'm not the only one who was confused. The performance prompted fellow artist Rina Sawayama to call out what she deemed as cultural appropriation.

"Big love to Sabrina but fellow artists creative teams… If we are clearly referencing a culture please can you do so with the research, respect and care it deserves," Sawayama shared on her Instagram stories.

"Shoes on tatami is jail," she added.

Watch Sabrina Carpenter's performance on SNL. Article continues after video.

Let's be honest, this isn't the worst case of appropriation we've seen in pop music. Far from it. It feels like a mistake from her team rather than malicious intent — hopefully one they'll learn from. And God knows the world seems to love piling onto Carpenter for everything she does, most of which feels unjustified and frankly misogynistic. 

But this time? I hate to admit that I kind of agree. 

Because this isn't really about Sabrina Carpenter at all. It's about a much bigger problem that's been plaguing the pop industry for years – the casual way Western artists borrow from other cultures without understanding or acknowledging what they're taking.

Cultural appropriation is a contentious topic, I know. But there's real discourse here that's worth understanding. Let me walk you through why this matters.

Culture is and has always been shared. No one is denying that. There are many beautiful ways you can appreciate another culture. There's no one way to do it… but there's definitely the wrong way.  

And what's missing in a lot of these situations, is the why. Why are we incorporating this particular culture into a performance? What place does it have on stage at this moment? And most of the time, it doesn't.

Image: NBC

The problem stems from these huge global artists — with infinite resources at their disposal — picking and choosing parts of a culture to elevate their performance without any real understanding of what the garments, symbols, or designs they're featuring on stage actually mean.

It's the lack of research, due diligence, and care that actively strips an aspect of a culture of all its meaning; that proves this decision was made purely for aesthetics. For a vibe. 

The recent Sabrina Carpenter discourse reminds me a lot of the backlash Kacey Musgraves received several years ago after she wore an áo dài — a traditional Vietnamese garment — on stage in Texas, but without the pants (a crucial part of the outfit), exposing her underwear and posing seductively on her Instagram.

People were, rightfully, not happy. 

this is great and all but kacey musgraves still has not apologized for her cultural appropriation and sexualization of the vietnamese áo dài OR throwing together an entirely different culture's headpieces to seek "exotic" https://t.co/ncxgmoVlWN pic.twitter.com/Gq1EndBhi3

— mai (@maiohmai_) October 11, 2022

It may seem trivial to some, but this degradation of Asian garments traditionally worn by Asian women is a tale as old as time and only adds to the hypersexualisation of femininity in so many of those communities. And seeing the biggest pop stars in the world do it on a global stage will never not be jarring. 

But it doesn't stop there. 

It's Ariana Grande being accused of putting on a "blaccent" from her Dangerous Woman era to her thank u, next era. Justin Bieber in dreadlocks. Justin Timberlake appropriating black culture in his music and performances. It's Nicki Minaj writing a song called 'Chun Li' and wearing a latex qipao on stage with chopsticks stuck in her hair.

It's Gwen Stefani creating an entire album, perfume brand and 'persona' around the Japanese school girl aesthetic (she literally toted around four Japanese women as her posse on and off-stage during this era, known as her "Harajuku Girls"). 

Image: Getty

The list goes on and on.

Our cultures have long been used as decor and garnish on stage by artists who should know better. 

That's not to say there isn't a place for cultural exchange and collaboration in music. Ed Sheeran is a brilliant example of someone who approaches this with genuine respect and intention.

Take his Persian fusion song 'Azizam' or the Indian-inspired 'Sapphire' — these songs weren't created from a distance or based on surface-level aesthetics. Sheeran actually travels to these countries to record, working directly with local producers and artists who bring authentic knowledge and expertise to the process. He spotlights these local collaborators in the songs themselves, ensuring they're credited and celebrated rather than simply used as inspiration. 

The result isn't just borrowing — it's genuine collaboration that benefits everyone involved.

Image: YouTube/Ed Sheeran

It's not about vibes or aesthetic appeal, it's about learning, understanding, and creating something together that honours the source while bringing something new to the world. That's the difference between appropriation and appreciation: one takes, the other shares.

Now, I'm sure neither Sabrina nor her team were thinking of the painful historical and social context behind her Japanese-inspired performance, but it doesn't take away from the reality.

Artists are responsible for what they put on stage. And calling out problematic representation is not meant to cancel or shame. It's a nudge to encourage singers and their creative teams to approach integrating other cultures with more consideration. To lead with curiosity, rather than assumption. 

Sabrina Carpenter isn't the first artist to appropriate a culture on stage. And, as history dictates, she won't be the last. 

Feature Image: NBC.