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Sabrina Carpenter Makes a Statement for Trans Rights with ‘Tears’ Performance at VMAs
Fresh off the August 29 debut of her new album Man’s Best Friend, Sabrina Carpenter hit the stage to perform her song “Tears” at the 2025 VMAs on September 7.
Donning an outfit covered in sparkly silver fringe, Carpenter emerged from a manhole cover beneath the stage, stepping out to begin her performance.
Carpenter was far from the only one on the stage as she danced alongside a large group of back-up dancers, including trans dancers and several drag queen contestants from the show RuPaul’s Drag Race.
During the performance, the background dancers held up signs featuring phrases like “PROTECT TRANS RIGHTS,” “GAY RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS,” and “Love Each Other,” signaling support to the LGBTQIA+ community.
The high energy performance also featured a tear-away costume change in a phone booth ahead of the number’s big finish.
During the dance break near the end of the number, rain began to fall from the ceiling, leaving Carpenter and her dancers dripping wet for a dramatic finish to the playful performance that seemed to pay homage to Britney Spears’ rain-soaked routine on her 2001 “Dream Within a Dream” Tour.
The performance also seemed to be a continuation of the themes Carpenter set forth in the “Tears” music video, which featured actor Colman Domingo in drag and featured playful references to The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Carpenter also went on to win Best Pop Artist and Best Album for Short n’ Sweet at the award show, making for an extra fun and celebratory night.
During her acceptance speech for Best Album, Carpenter explicitly mentioned her support for the community saying, “To my queens on stage with me tonight, this world can be so full of criticism and discrimination and negativity. To get to be part of something that can bring light, make you smile, dance and make you feel like the world is your f-ing oyster. I’m so grateful to do that.”
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