As Sabrina Carpenter shimmered across the stage at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards in an outfit reminiscent of Britney Spears’ 2001 VMAs look, she shared the moment with others she felt deserved to be seen and represented. A few who joined her on stage were Symone, Denali Foxx and Lexi Love, all stars from “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Their presence on stage highlighted Carpenter’s commitment to representation and celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community as they held up signs advocating for equality and transgender rights.
Her nominations
The 2025 VMA’s marked Carpenter’s second time on the iconic stage —- her first being last year when she sang her hits “Espresso,” “Taste” and “Please Please Please.” For her second year, she performed “Tears” from her new album, “Man’s Best Friend.” The pop star had eight nominations for the night, which included Best Album for “Short n’ Sweet” and Video of the Year for her hit single “Manchild.” She brought home three trophies: Best Visual Effects, Best Album and Best Pop Artist. With her wins and outstanding performance, Carpenter solidified her status even more as one of today’s leading pop artists.
What her performance represented
At a time when many transgender communities are under attack and are facing limitations to gender identity care, Carpenter used her VMA performance as a way to powerfully uplift the LGBTQ community. A longtime ally, Carpenter recently raised over $1 million dollars for LGBTQ+ causes through The Sabrina Carpenter Fund, which launched during her Short n’ Sweet Tour. The Sabrina Carpenter Fund is in partnership with PLUS1, a non-profit organization that partners with artists and brands to fund non-profit organizations supporting social justice causes. In an interview with Forbes, Carpenter shared that her goal is to “support some of the issue areas that matter most to [her]: mental health, animal welfare and LGBTQ+ rights.” This performance is one of many ways Carpenter has used her platform to spark change and show her support for the LGBTQ community.
Backlash
While many supported and applauded Carpenter’s performance, it also sparked debate and controversy. Some have called her performance “performative activism,” using it as a way to improve her career image and standing. This conversation highlights the question of whether celebrities are genuine advocates toward social issues or if it’s all just a part of their image.
