Sabrina Carpenter's “Taste” music video allegedly has a hidden message to Shawn Mendes

Sabrina Carpenter's "Taste" music video is a masterclass in blending pop culture references with personal storytelling, featuring a treasure trove of easter eggs that fans have eagerly dissected. The video, which stars Carpenter alongside Jenna Ortega, plays out like a dark comedy and is inspired by the 1992 cult classic Death Becomes Her. In the original film, Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn’s characters battle over a man but ultimately form an unexpected bond—an arc that is mirrored in Carpenter's playful, yet gruesome, visual narrative.

The casting in "Taste" also raises eyebrows, with Rohan Campbell playing the man at the center of the feud. His look—a simple white T-shirt and brunette curls—draws a clear parallel to Shawn Mendes, with whom Carpenter was rumored to have a brief fling in early 2023. The choice of Jenna Ortega, who bears a striking resemblance to Camila Cabello, Mendes' on-and-off girlfriend, only adds fuel to the speculation that the video is a nod to this real-life love triangle.

One of the most intriguing easter eggs is the gravestone that appears in the video, inscribed with "In loving memory of Beloved Boyfriend," and the dates May 22, 1998 – August 23, 2024. Fans quickly noted that Mendes was born in 1998, making the gravestone a potential reference to him. The date May 22, though seemingly random, could be a subtle nod to Camila Cabello's song "B.O.A.T.," released on her most recent album—an acronym that coincidentally aligns with National Maritime Day, observed on May 22.

The video concludes with a humorous exchange between Carpenter and Ortega, where they discuss the "Shawn-esque" man. Sabrina's character describes him as "clingy, lots of trauma," to which Ortega responds, "Very insecure, very insecure," eliciting laughter from Carpenter. This final scene offers a possible glimpse into the reasons behind the rumored end of Carpenter's brief romance with Mendes.