Sabrina Carpenter apologises after Coachella chant misunderstanding sparks backlash
Photo: AFP
Sabrina Carpenter has apologised after mistakenly identifying a traditional Arabic celebratory chant as yodelling during her headline performance at the 2026 Coachella festival.
The incident occurred during her Friday night set when an audience member performed a Zaghrouta, a vocal expression commonly used in Arab cultures to celebrate joyful occasions. In a widely circulated video, Carpenter paused mid-performance and said, “I think I heard someone yodel. Is that what you’re doing? I don’t like it.”
Shame on @TeamSabrina @SabrinaAnnLynn for copyrighting this video instead of apologizing pic.twitter.com/ssYxgyhlIz
The attendee responded, “It’s my culture,” prompting Carpenter to reply, “That’s your culture, is yodelling?” The audience member clarified, “It’s a call of celebration,” to which Carpenter added, “Is this Burning Man? What’s going on? This is weird.”
Following criticism online, Sabrina Carpenter addressed the situation on X on Saturday. “my apologies i didn’t see this person with my eyes and couldn’t hear clearly.
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/f3KuT8sggHThe exchange prompted backlash from some social media users, with one post accusing the singer of insensitivity towards cultural expression. Carpenter directly responded with her apology, acknowledging the misunderstanding.
Carpenter was the first headliner of this year’s Coachella festival, sharing the line-up with Justin Bieber and Karol G, who are scheduled to headline the remaining nights of the opening weekend.
Her set also featured guest appearances from Sam Elliott, Susan Sarandon and Will Ferrell, alongside debut performances of new material from her latest album.
Carpenter is expected to return for a second headline performance at the festival on April 17.