Sabrina Carpenter apologises after criticising fan's cultural ululation
Many people criticised Carpenter for being disrespectful.
Sabrina Carpenter found herself in the middle of controversy after her headlining set at Coachella 2026 on Friday, April 10.
The moment that is currently doing the rounds on social media shows the 25-year-old pop star at her piano, ready to start a song, when a loud sound from the crowd caught her attention.
“I think I heard someone yodel. Is that what you’re doing?” she asked a fan who was making the sound, before adding, "I don’t like it."
The fan quickly corrected her, shouting, “It’s my culture,” to which Carpenter replied, “That’s your culture, is yodeling?”
The fan then went on to explain, “It’s a call! It’s a call of celebration!”
Seemingly confused, the singer ended the interaction saying, “Is this Burning Man? What’s going on? This is weird.”
Video clips of the interaction quickly went viral with many saying Carpenter’s response was disrespectful.
Sabrina Carpenter está sendo criticada após tirar sarro de fã que fez um 'zaghrouta', som com a boca para simbolizar alegria na cultura árabe e africana, durante show no Coachella.
— POPTime (@poptime) April 11, 2026
A fã explicou que era algo da sua cultura, mas mesmo assim foi chamada de estranha pela artista. pic.twitter.com/KttJfiMy34
Many online users were quick to identify the sound as a “zaghrouta.”
“Zaghrouta” is reportedly a traditional Arabic expression of joy often heard at weddings and parties.
According to the non-profit Arab America, the cry is “a form of a long, wavering, high-pitched vocal sound representing trills of joy.”
The organisation says that it is “usually used by women in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and is commonly performed in weddings, parties, celebrations and sometimes in funerals to honour someone and to express strong emotions.”
Some users felt calling the cultural expression “weird” was disrespectful, while others suggested the ‘Please Please Please’ singer simply couldn't hear the fan from the stage.
On April 11, Sabrina took to X to apologise for the situation.
"My apologies I didn’t see this person with my eyes and couldn’t hear clearly."
"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."
my apologies i didn’t see this person with my eyes and couldn’t hear clearly. my reaction was pure confusion, sarcasm and not ill intended. could have handled it better! now i know what a Zaghrouta is!
— Sabrina Carpenter (@SabrinaAnnLynn) April 11, 2026
I welcome all cheers and yodels from here on out https://t.co/f3KuT8sggH
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Image: X/ Screenshot