Sabrina Carpenter on stage at the 2025 VMAsSabrina Carpenter made a display of solidarity with the transgender community during her performance at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards.
On Sunday night, the Espresso singer delivered her third consecutive performance at the VMAs, where she gave her latest single Tears its live debut.
During her routine, Sabrina’s backing dancers portrayed protesters holding pro-LGBTQ+ messages, including slogans specifically supporting trans people like “protect trans lives”, “in trans we trust” and “dolls dolls dolls”.
The Grammy winner’s performance also included cameos from Drag Race favourites like Symone, Willam Belli, Laganja Estranja and Lexi Love.
Later in the performance, slogans like “support local drag”, “tip the dolls” and, more playfully, “if you hate you’ll never get laid” were also shown on stage.
Sabrina Carpenter shows support for the LGBTQ+ community on stage at the VMAsAt the end of the routine, Sabrina paid homage to 2000s pop icons like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Jennifer Lopez with a group dance break in the rain.
Watch the full performance for yourself below:
Sabrina’s Tears music video premiered at the end of last month, which saw the singer and Oscar nominee Colman Domingo paying homage to The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Colman has already hit back at those who took issue with him appearing in the video in drag, writing on X: “It’s a character. Like all the characters I play. Calm down brother. Enjoy the video and the fun that it possesses. Dance it out! It ain’t that deep.”
Other performers during this year’s VMAs included Lady Gaga, Doja Cat and Mariah Carey, who was honoured with the coveted Video Vanguard prize.
While Gaga also walked away with the most wins, the top award of the night, Video Of The Year, went to Ariana Grande for her self-directed Better Days Ahead short film, which showcased music from her 2024 album Eternal Sunshine and its 2025 deluxe edition.
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