Sabrina Carpenter Responds to Criticism Over Her Sexuality and Performances

Sabrina Carpenter has addressed recent criticism from Eighties hitmaker Pete Waterman, who called her performances "offensive" due to her confident expression of sexuality. In an interview with The Sun, Waterman accused the singer of "throwing away" the freedoms women have fought for, labeling her shows as "crazy" and singling out her outfits, saying, "If you’re asking to be respected, don’t come on in a G-string."

Now, Sabrina is speaking out. During an interview with the same outlet on Sunday, the Espresso singer didn’t hold back in defending herself.

"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 stated. Sabrina went on to call out the long history of shaming female artists for their self-expression.

"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. It is totally regressive," Carpenter said.

She also pointed out the double standards in how her artistry is perceived. "It’s like those who want to shame don’t make comments when I talk about self-care or body positivity or heartbreak, which are all normal things a 25-year-old goes through. They just want to talk about the sexual side of my performances," she added.

Despite the backlash, Carpenter continues to thrive professionally. Her Grammy-nominated sixth album, Short n’ Sweet, recently became her first to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, solidifying her place as one of today’s leading pop stars.

Sabrina Carpenter’s bold response serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle female artists face in embracing their identity while challenging outdated notions of what it means to perform confidently.