Sabrina Carpenter defends her bold stage persona: "Female artists have been shamed forever"

Sabrina Carpenter responds to criticism, embracing confidence and rejecting industry double standards.

Sabrina Carpenter has vowed never to tone down her bold and sexy stage persona after music mogul Pete Waterman branded her performances “offensive.” The 25-year-old pop star is determined to embrace her identity, saying critics simply cannot handle a woman confident in her own skin.

Speaking to The Sun, Sabrina stated, “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.”

Sabrina, who has faced backlash for her risqué routines during her Short N’ Sweet Tour, acknowledged that this kind of criticism isn’t new for women in music. She explained, “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.”

Waterman, part of the legendary Stock Aitken Waterman trio, had accused Sabrina of setting back women’s rights, stating, “If you’re asking to be respected, don’t come on in a G-string.”

Sabrina, however, sees such comments as hypocritical and regressive. “It’s essentially saying that female performers should not be able to embrace their sexuality in their lyrics, in the way we dress, in the way we perform,” she said.

Despite the criticism, Sabrina continues to smash records. In August 2024, she became the first female artist to simultaneously hold the No. 1 album and single in the UK, with her album Short N’ Sweet and hit “Taste.” She’s also nominated for International Artist of the Year at the Brit Awards in March.

Sabrina concluded, “As women, we need to be kind to each other. Confidence is key, and I’ll keep owning it.”