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Is Sabrina Carpenter’s “SNL” Gig a Star-Studded Slip-Up? Rina Sawayama Drops a Cultural Hammer You Can’t Ignore!

Added on October 20, 2025 inMusic News Cards

Ever catch yourself wondering if the cosmos is pulling a prank when a simple musical performance on SNL turns into a cultural debate? Well, this week, Sabrina Carpenter’s martial arts-inspired act — complete with dancers performing what looked like a “karate” routine — didn’t just grace the stage, it sparked a firestorm of conversation thanks to none other than British-Japanese powerhouse Rina Sawayama. Under Mercury’s mischievous influence, communication gets tricky, and boy, did the message get tangled! Rina didn’t hold back, urging creatives to honor cultural elements with the respect they deserve — reminding us that, yes, “shoes on tatami is jail.” With claws out in the best zodiac fashion, this bout between artistic vision and cultural sensitivity raises a spicy question: when does homage tip into appropriation? As the stars nudge us to think deeper about our expressions, Sabrina’s SNL number lets us chew on the importance of mindful creativity. Curious for the full scoop? LEARN MORE.

Sabrina Carpenter On SNL Called Out By Rina Sawayama

Rina Sawayama made a pointed observation about Sabrina Carpenter’s SNL performance this week.

As guest and musical host, Sabrina performed a rendition of “Nobody’s Son” against a martial arts-themed backdrop, complete with dancers performing a “karate” routine.

Rina, a British Japanese singer and actor, subsequently took to her Instagram story to point out one of the potential issues with the performance.

“big love to Sabrina ❤️ but fellow artists creative teams… if we are clearly referencing a culture please can you do so with the research, respect and care it deserves,” Rina wrote. “Shoes on tatami is jail.”

Some did bring up a point that there may have been safety concerns with the performers being barefoot, meaning that the decision to perform with shoes may not have been that of Sabrina’s creative team. It is worth noting that Kacey Musgraves, Halsey, and Chris Martin have performed barefoot on SNL.

BuzzFeed has reached out to Sabrina’s choreographer for comment.

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