DUBAI — Singer Sabrina Carpenter apologized on Saturday after misidentifying a fan’s zaghrouta — a traditional Arabic celebratory ululation — as yodeling during her headline set at Coachella on Friday evening.
“My apologies, I didn’t see this person with my eyes and couldn’t hear clearly,” Carpenter wrote on X. “My reaction was pure confusion, sarcasm and not ill intended. Could have handled it better! Now I know what a zaghrouta is! I welcome all cheers and yodels from here on out.”
Clips of the moment spread widely online. While seated at a piano on the main stage, Carpenter reacted to a fan performing a zaghrouta from the crowd. She said into the microphone: “I think I heard someone yodel. Is that what you’re doing? I don’t like it.” The fan responded, “It’s my culture!” Carpenter replied, “That’s your culture, is yodeling?” The audience member clarified, “It’s a call of celebration.” Carpenter then quipped, “Is this Burning Man? What’s going on? This is weird.”
The exchange drew backlash on social media, with critics accusing the two-time Grammy winner of dismissing a culturally significant expression of joy.
Carpenter’s Friday performance also included appearances from Sam Elliott, Will Ferrell, and Susan Sarandon, who delivered a seven-minute monologue during a costume change. Carpenter is among this year’s Coachella headliners, alongside Justin Bieber and Karol G. She made her Coachella debut in 2024, the year she released her summer smash “Espresso.”
Also Read:
Belén Garijo’s Vision: Leading Healthcare Into a New Era
The Inspiring Story of Rihanna’s Billion-Dollar Beauty Brand
