Rina Sawayama Calls Out Sabrina Carpenter Over Her SNL Performance

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Rina Sawayama shared her thoughts on Sabrina Carpenter‘s recent Saturday Night Live performance, pointing out some issues with how culturally accurate it was.

Sabrina Carpenter performed her song “Nobody’s Son” from her new album, “Man’s Best Friend,” on Saturday. The performance had a Japanese theme, with Carpenter wearing a sequined kimono and dancers performing martial arts-inspired choreography.

Rina Sawayama, whose parents are Japanese and British, posted a message on Instagram on Sunday. She asked artists and their teams to thoroughly research, respect, and thoughtfully approach cultures they are referencing in their work, adding, “Big love to Sabrina but…”

Sawayama also noted a cultural faux pas: wearing shoes on tatami mats. She explained, “Shoes on tatami is a no-no,” referring to the sneakers the dancers wore while walking on the traditional Japanese flooring.

In Japan, it’s traditional to take off your shoes before walking on tatami mats. These mats, often made of rice straw, are commonly used in rooms for prayer and other cultural practices.

Carpenter has not yet responded to Sawayama’s comments.

Beyond the conversation about cultural impact, Carpenter’s appearance on Saturday Night Live also made headlines because she used the word ‘fuck’ twice when she first walked on stage. These instances weren’t edited out of the version of the show that aired on the East Coast.

Rina Sawayama emphasizes that it’s crucial to be respectful of cultures when taking ideas from them.

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2025-10-21 10:46