Sabrina Carpenter draws attention after calling fan’s cultural cry ‘weird’ at Coachella

Sabrina Carpenter is drawing widespread attention online after a moment from her Coachella headlining set went viral, showing the singer misinterpreting a fan’s cultural celebratory cry during her performance.

The interaction took place on Friday, April 10, at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California, as Carpenter was seated at a piano preparing to introduce her song We Almost Broke Up Again Last Night.

“I think I heard someone yodel. Is that what you’re doing?” the 25-year-old singer said from the stage, before adding, “I don’t like it.”

When the fan responded that it was part of their culture, Carpenter appeared confused, replying, “That’s your culture, is yodeling?”

“It’s a call! It’s a call of celebration!” the audience member said, attempting to clarify. Carpenter then reacted, “Is this Burning Man? What’s going on? This is weird.”

Clips of the exchange quickly spread across social media, where users identified the sound as a Zaghrouta, a traditional high-pitched vocal trill commonly used in celebrations across parts of the Middle East and North Africa.

The expression is often performed at weddings and festive gatherings as a symbol of joy and communal celebration, and has appeared in global pop culture moments, including performances by international artists.

Following the viral clip, some social media users criticized Carpenter’s choice of words, arguing that calling the sound “weird” was disrespectful, while others suggested she may not have fully heard or understood what was being said in the loud concert environment.

Representatives for Carpenter and Coachella have not yet responded to requests for comment.

The moment comes during Carpenter’s first Coachella headlining set, two years after her festival debut in 2024. 

Her performance featured songs from her albums Man’s Best Friend and Short ’n Sweet, along with several surprise celebrity appearances, including appearances from Sam Elliott, Will Ferrell, Samuel L. Jackson, and Susan Sarandon in theatrical interludes woven into the set.