Story perspectives

Rina Sawayama Slams Sabrina Carpenter for Cultural Appropriation

10/21/2025

Summary

Story summary

Rina Sawayama criticized Sabrina Carpenter's Saturday Night Live performance of "Nobody's Son" as cultural appropriation.
Carpenter's set featured a Japanese dojo aesthetic with dancers wearing sneakers on tatami mats.
Sawayama criticized the imagery on Instagram, writing that "Shoes on tatami is jail" and urging artists to treat cultural references with respect.
The response to Carpenter's performance was mixed, and neither Carpenter nor SNL has publicly responded to Sawayama's comments.

History

Historical Context

The cultural appropriation debate gained momentum in 2015 with Miley Cyrus's "Bangerz," which drew criticism for exploiting hip-hop culture. Organizations like Color of Change highlighted the issue, prompting discussions on respect in artistic expression. Recent critiques, such as Rina Sawayama's comments on Sabrina Carpenter's performance, reflect ongoing concerns about cultural sensitivity and representation in media, emphasizing the need for thoughtful engagement with cultural symbols.

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Story summary

Rina Sawayama criticized Sabrina Carpenter's Saturday Night Live performance of "Nobody's Son" as cultural appropriation.
Carpenter's set featured a Japanese dojo aesthetic with dancers wearing sneakers on tatami mats.
Sawayama criticized the imagery on Instagram, writing that "Shoes on tatami is jail" and urging artists to treat cultural references with respect.
The response to Carpenter's performance was mixed, and neither Carpenter nor SNL has publicly responded to Sawayama's comments.

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