Sabrina Carpenter altered her staging and choreography days before the MTV Video Music Awards to spotlight transgender performers and drag artists, a move an insider described as a “major risk” after the set drew both praise and criticism on social media.
Carpenter, 26, performed her new single "Tears" Sunday at UBS Arena in Elmont, New York, flanked by well-known drag performers including Honey Balenciaga, Symone, Dashaun Wesley and Richie Shazam. Several people on stage carried signs reading "In trans we trust," "Support drag," "Protect trans rights" and "If you hate, you’ll never get laid," while Carpenter performed in a vintage showgirl bra and staged a rain-soaked dance break. An exclusive Daily Mail source said the pro-trans concept replaced an earlier, tongue-in-cheek idea inspired by Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 days before the ceremony.
The source told the Daily Mail Carpenter consulted members of the transgender community ahead of the show and decided to highlight what she was told were experiences of fetishization and exclusion. According to the source, costumes and set pieces were changed at the last minute, and the number of dancers was altered to include more trans performers. The signage on stage included a reference to the unsolved murder of trans performer Venus Xtravaganza with the phrase "Protect the Dolls," the source said.
Reaction on social media was mixed. Some viewers praised the visibility and the theatrical elements of the performance, with fans commending the rain dance break and Carpenter’s onstage presence. Other users accused the staging of fetishizing trans people, calling the moment "face activism" or "performative" and urging celebrities to support communities through donations or sustained work rather than symbolic gestures. One social media commenter referenced a recent shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school and called the timing of the display "insensitive." The Daily Mail report quoted those reactions without independent verification of all posts.
Carpenter also won the night’s Best Album award for Short N Sweet, beating nominees including Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd and Morgan Wallen. During her acceptance speech she spoke generally about facing "criticism and discrimination and negativity," and thanked fans for their support.
The MTV appearance adds to a string of controversies surrounding Carpenter’s recent artistic direction. Her current tour and the release of her seventh studio album, Man's Best Friend, prompted debate after she unveiled an album sleeve in June that some critics called demeaning; Carpenter later released three alternative covers. The singer has publicly rejected some criticism of her stage outfits, telling detractors earlier this year "don't come to the show" while saying her costumes make her feel comfortable.
Representatives for Carpenter, MTV and performers on the stage did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The VMAs have a history of politically and culturally charged moments, and the latest performance underlines how award-show appearances continue to draw sharp public reaction. According to the Daily Mail source, Carpenter had long planned to perform "Tears," but she changed the rest of the show to foreground trans visibility after conversations with community members. The source described the choice as intentional and risky, a creative decision taken days before the broadcast.
As discussion about the performance continued on social platforms, supporters and critics alike framed the moment within broader debates over celebrity activism and the role of entertainment platforms in political and social conversations. The immediate outcome for Carpenter included continued public attention and a VMA for Best Album; whether the appearance shifts perceptions of her artistic identity or prompts further responses from the artist or advocacy groups remains to be seen.