Sabrina Carpenter is facing backlash after dismissing a traditional Arabic celebratory call as “weird” and mistaking it for yodeling during her headlining Coachella performance, in an exchange that quickly went viral.
The incident unfolded Friday night as Carpenter sat at the piano on the festival’s main stage. A fan in the crowd let out a Zaghrouta, a high-pitched ululation common in celebrations across the Middle East and North Africa.
“I think I heard someone yodel. Is that what you’re doing? I don’t like it,” Carpenter said into the microphone.
When the fan responded, “It’s my culture,” Carpenter replied, “That’s your culture, is yodeling?” The attendee then clarified: “It’s a call of celebration.”
Carpenter continued, “Is this Burning Man? What’s going on? This is weird.”
Videos of the exchange, in which the Arabic chant was mistaken for yodeling, spread rapidly on social media, prompting criticism from users who accused the singer of being dismissive toward a cultural expression. Some described the comments as insensitive, pointing to a lack of awareness of the tradition.
The Zaghrouta, sometimes referred to as ululation, is widely used in celebrations such as weddings and festivals across the region, and has appeared in global pop culture moments, including performances by artists with Middle Eastern heritage.
Carpenter addressed the backlash Saturday in a post on X.
“My apologies, I didn’t see this person with my eyes and couldn’t hear clearly,” she wrote. “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.”
The singer, a two-time Grammy winner, was one of the headline acts at this year’s Coachella festival, alongside Justin Bieber and Karol G.
Her performance featured celebrity cameos from Sam Elliott, Susan Sarandon and Will Ferrell, and included new material from her latest album.
While the set drew praise for its energy and production, the moment involving the Arabic chant and yodeling confusion has dominated online discussion, highlighting how quickly a brief onstage exchange can reshape the narrative around a major live performance.