‘Stupid and cruel’: Peta slams Sabrina Carpenter and Lady Gaga’s Grammy performances
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Sabrina Carpenter’s performance included her bringing out a white dove, while Lady Gaga wore a red-and-black Alexander McQueen Fall 2009 outfit that had feathers.
PHOTOS: REUTERS, AFP
Animal rights organisation Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has criticised American pop stars Sabrina Carpenter and Lady Gaga for using animals and animal products at their Grammy Award performances on Feb 1.
In Carpenter’s live rendition of her hit song Manchild (2025) during the ceremony at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena, she brought out a white dove, which she held in her hands.
Peta referenced lyrics from the pop track in a post on its social media platforms on Feb 2 criticising the 26-year-old singer. “Hey Sabrina, bringing a live bird onto the Grammy’s stage is stupid, slow, useless... and cruel! Bright lights, loud noise and handling cause fear and distress for a bird who belongs flying free in the open sky.”
The caption on the post added: “The Manchild singer is giving childlike behaviour. Leave animals out of the #GRAMMYs!”
Peta also took issue with Lady Gaga’s performance of her 2025 song Abracadabra, in which the 39-year-old wore a red-and-black Alexander McQueen Fall 2009 outfit that had feathers.
“Lady Gaga, let birds keep their feathers!” the organisation wrote in a separate post on social media on Feb 2. “Feathers belong on birds, and birds should be free, not in cages. Not sure what @ladygaga’s #GRAMMYs message is, but that’s Peta’s. Whether they’re plucked out while the bird is alive, or after they are killed, the bird always suffers,” it added in the captions.
Peta then took aim at American rapper-producer Pharrell, who was honoured with a Dr Dre Global Impact Award at the ceremony.
“Hey @Pharrell, heard you mentioned at the #GRAMMYs as Men’s Creative Director at @LouisVuitton. We’re still waiting for you to do the right thing. Drop fur and wild-animal skins,” it wrote on X, referencing the 52-year-old hip-hop star’s title at the French luxury brand.
In contrast, the group praised American singers Cher and Billie Eilish for their awards that night, highlighting their work as animal rights advocates.
Cher, 79, picked up the Lifetime Achievement Award while Eilish, 24, won Song of the Year for Wildflower (2024).
“From working to help captive elephants to dogs suffering in the cold. Thank you for using your platform to change the lives of animals,” Peta wrote of Cher on X.
The group added of Eilish: “From powerful music to powerful compassion, our 2021 Person of the Year continues to lead with vegan values, fur-free fashion and respect for animals.”
