Sabrina Carpenter issues apology over 'racist' mocking of Arab celebration

ALBAWABA - Popular American singer and songwriter Sabrina Carpenter recently sparked backlash on social media after being accused of "racism" towards an Arab fan during her piano performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California.

The singer was ready to perform on the piano when she heard a "zaghrouta," a traditional ululation often associated with Arabs and the Middle East during celebratory events such as weddings and parties. When the fan did the "zaghrouta," Sabrina responded with "Is that what you're doing? I don't like it..." 

The fan said, "It's part of my culture," to which the American star replied, "That's your culture is yodeling?" then proceeded to call it weird. 

Videos of the interaction flooded platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), with many calling Sabrina Carpenter "racist" and "inconsiderate" of other people's cultures. 

Sabrina Carpenter issues apology over 'racist' mocking of Arab celebration

Sabrina Carpenter está sendo criticada após tirar sarro de fã que fez um 'zaghrouta', som com a boca para simbolizar alegria na cultura árabe e africana, durante show no Coachella.

A fã explicou que era algo da sua cultura, mas mesmo assim foi chamada de estranha pela artista. pic.twitter.com/KttJfiMy34

— POPTime (@poptime) April 11, 2026

In response to the backlash, Sabrina took to X and wrote, "my apologies i didn’t see this person with my eyes and couldn’t hear clearly. my reaction was pure confusion, sarcasm and not ill intended. could have handled it better! now i know what a Zaghrouta is! I welcome all cheers and yodels from here on out."

A user replied to Sabrina, writing, "you clearly heard them and said “this is your culture?” with that weirded-out face… if there hadn’t been backlash, you wouldn’t have even apologized."

This comes after a controversial social media user named "Poppy" wrote on X, "sabrina saying that she doesn’t like a cultural arabic cheer… this is so insensitive and islamophobic. i am very disappointed in her." 

Another added, "I’m in a complete shock. I used to be a huge sabrina carpenter fan and now she’s mocking my culture and calling me “weird”, this is so racist and inappropriate and it made me feel uncomfortable. this white blonde racist woman should be cancelled."

my apologies i didn’t see this person with my eyes and couldn’t hear clearly. my reaction was pure confusion, sarcasm and not ill intended. could have handled it better! now i know what a Zaghrouta is!
I welcome all cheers and yodels from here on out https://t.co/f3KuT8sggH

— Sabrina Carpenter (@SabrinaAnnLynn) April 11, 2026