Sabrina Carpenter Has 1 Piece Of Advice For People Bothered By Her Sexuality

Like many young pop stars, Sabrina Carpenter has long cited Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears as inspirations. Unfortunately, she’s been subjected to some of the sexist commentary her musical predecessors endured, too.

In an interview with Time published this week, Carpenter said she’s “definitely” been criticised for expressing her sexuality in her music videos and live performances, much as Aguilera and Spears were during their heyday.

“I definitely get that as well,” she told the outlet, alluding to the challenges of honing a pop career in the era of social media. “Someone told me this, whenever I would get upset or feel like I’m the only one getting criticised for something other people are able to do seemingly so freely: I’m the one that’s seeing all the negative shit about myself. My friends don’t see that.”

As for those who have “a strong opinion” on her sexy costumes, Carpenter has a few words of advice.

“To that I just say, don’t come to the show and that’s OK,” she explained. “It’s unfortunate that it’s ever been something to criticise, because truthfully, the scariest thing in the world is getting up on a stage in front of that many people and having to perform as if it’s nothing.”

“If the one thing that helps you do that is the way you feel comfortable dressing, then that’s what you’ve got to do,” she added.

Sabrina Carpenter performs at Outside Lands Music Festival on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in San Francisco, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
Sabrina Carpenter performs at Outside Lands Music Festival on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in San Francisco, Calif. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

via Associated Press

At 25, Carpenter is hardly a show business novice. The Pennsylvania native rose to prominence on the Disney Channel series “Girl Meets World,” which ran from 2014 to 2017. She’s spent much of the past year as the opening act on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, even joining Swift herself onstage in Sydney.

It wasn’t until the April release of her smash single “Espresso,” however, that Carpenter was able to fully capture the pop zeitgeist. Her latest album, “Short ’n Sweet,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard chart after its release in August and spawned two more hit singles, “Please Please Please” and “Taste.” She kicked off a global tour in support of the album last month.

In the meantime, Carpenter has taken steps to align herself with other music industry stalwarts. Last month, she attended the MTV VMAs in a vintage Bob Mackie gown previously worn by Madonna. She also teamed up with Aguilera for a new version of “What a Girl Wants” in honour of the 25th anniversary of Aguilera’s debut album.

And much as Madonna welcomed Spears and Aguilera into her orbit with a smooch years ago, Aguilera recognised the “symbolic, full-circle connection” she shares with Carpenter for this year’s Time 100 list, which celebrates the most influential people of 2024.

“As a fellow 5-ft. female with a similar working-adolescent Disney history, I firsthand recognise and respect what it takes to maintain clarity while delivering within the demands of this business,” she wrote. “Sabrina handles the task with seemingly effortless ease and charisma while promoting, performing, and handling press with a smile and her signature coy charm.”

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Britney Spears Reveals How ‘Terrifying’ VMAs Duet With Giant Snake Really Was

Britney Spears is reflecting on one of the most iconic moments of her career.

While fans undoubtedly remember her performing “I’m a Slave 4 U” with an albino Burmese python wrapped around her shoulders, Spears shares in her upcoming memoir what that iconic moment at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards actually felt like — and says it was genuinely “terrifying.”

“The plan was for me to sing ‘I’m a Slave 4 U,’ and we decided I would use a snake as a prop,” writes Spears in an excerpt of her memoir, “The Woman in Me,” published Tuesday by People.

“It’s become an iconic moment in VMAs history, but it was even more terrifying than it appeared,” she continues. “All I knew was to look down, because I felt if I looked up and caught its eye, it would kill me.”

Despite a surprise appearance by Michael Jackson, Spears and her seemingly effortless snake-charming stole the show.

“In my head I was saying, Just perform, just use your legs and perform,” Spears, who was 19 at the time, writes in her memoir. “But what nobody knows is that as I was singing, the snake brought its head right around to my face, right up to me, and started hissing.”

She continues: “I was thinking, Are you fucking serious right now? The fucking goddamn snake’s tongue is flicking out at me. Right. Now. Finally, I got to the part where I handed it back, thank God.”

The snake itself was, hilariously, named Banana.

Her performance appeared effortless to millions, but Spears was genuinely terrified.
Her performance appeared effortless to millions, but Spears was genuinely terrified.

Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images

The moment is clearly visible around the 3-minute mark in official footage from MTV. But die-hard fans won’t have to rely on old recordings for new Spears stories much longer — she is set to candidly dish on her life and career in “The Woman in Me,” which hits shelves Oct. 24.

The millennial pop star has been on an extensive promotional run for the upcoming memoir, which her publisher says will explore “the impact of sharing her voice” in court battles over her controversial conservatorship and how “it changed the course of her life.”

Spears has already shared a handful of illuminating excerpts from the book, writing about the drinking habits of her parents, why she really shaved her head in 2007 — and saying ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake once urged her to get an abortion.

The audiobook version will be narrated by Oscar-nominated actor Michelle Williams.

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Lil Nas X, Kendrick Lamar And Jack Harlow Top MTV VMA Nominations

Jack Harlow, Lil Nas X and Kendrick Lamar are the top contenders with seven nominations at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards.

Lil Nas X and Harlow earned multiple nominations for their collaborative hit Industry Baby, which is nominated for video of the year.

Both performers, along with Drake, Bad Bunny, Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles and Lizzo, will compete for artist of the year.

Lamar, who is nominated for the first time since 2018, has two songs, family ties and N95, that will vie for best cinematography.

The rapper was also nominated for best hip-hop, direction, visual effects, editing, and video for good.

Styles and Doja Cat received the second-most nominations with six.

Sheeran, Billie Eilish, Drake, Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift and The Weeknd each pulled in five.

Madonna, who is the most decorated artist in MTV history with 20 wins, becomes the only artist to receive a nomination in each of the VMAs’ five decades.

She earned her 69th nomination for her 14th studio album Madame X.

The awards will have 26 first-time nominees, including Baby Keem with four along with Kacey Musgraves, GAYLE and Maneskin – who each have two nominations.

The VMAs will take place on August 28 at the Prudential Centre in Newark, New Jersey.

Fan voting begins on Tuesday across 22 categories at vote.mtv.com.

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Conor McGregor Brands Machine Gun Kelly A ‘Little Vanilla Boy Rapper’ Following MTV VMAs Scuffle

Conor McGregor has called Machine Gun Kelly a “little vanilla boy rapper” after the Irish UFC star appeared to throw a punch at the rapper on the MTV VMAs red carpet on Sunday night.

Pictures from the event appeared to show Conor and Machine Gun Kelly being kept apart by security.

The former UFC champion attended the ceremony at the Barclays Centre in New York with his partner Dee Devlin, while the US musician arrived with his Hollywood actor girlfriend Megan Fox.

Stephen LovekinStephen Lovekin/Shutterstock

Conor McGregor and Machine Gun Kelly

Following the red carpet altercation, the Dublin-born fighter insisted that “nothing” had happened.

“Absolutely nothing. I don’t know. He showed up, and I don’t know. I don’t know the guy,” Conor told Entertainment Tonight, 

“Nothing happened with me, I only fight real fighters, people that actually fight, you know what I mean.

“I certainly don’t fight little vanilla boy rappers. I don’t even know the guy. I don’t know anything about him, except that he’s with Megan Fox.”

Stephen LovekinStephen Lovekin/Shutterstock

Conor McGregor and Machine Gun Kelly

Machine Gun Kelly, whose real name is Colson Baker, was also asked about the alleged altercation but walked away without answering the question.

Both men later appeared during the VMAs ceremony.

JASON SZENESJASON SZENES/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Conor McGregor and Machine Gun Kelly

Conor, who is walking with a cane after suffering a serious leg injury in his latest fight in July, was on hand to award Justin Bieber his artist of the year prize.

Machine Gun Kelly was also among the night’s winners, taking home the prize for best alternative in recognition of his song My Ex’s Best Friend.

He and Transformers star Megan have been dating since last year.

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