Sabrina Carpenter has issued an apology after allegedly misunderstanding an Arabic cheer from a fan during her Coachella set. This sparked backlash online and prompted the singer to address the incident a day later on social media, where she clarified that she misunderstood the sound coming from the crowd. Moreover, her reaction was out of confusion.
Sabrina Carpenter writes she was confused about the ‘Arabic call’
On Friday night, during Carpenter’s performance at the festival, she started playing the keyboard as fans cheered, and someone in the audience let out a zaghrouta, a high, trilling ululation used in some Arab cultures during celebrations. Carpenter appeared to mistake it for yodeling and responded from the stage — and the reaction upset some attendees.
On Saturday, Sabrina Carpenter posted an apology on X (formerly Twitter), saying she did not understand the Arabic cheer during her Coachella performance. She wrote, “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,” adding, “I welcome all cheers and yodels from here on out.”
Online reaction was diverse in the hours after the video went viral. Some social media users criticized Carpenter’s stage comments as disrespectful after the fan tried to explain that they were part of their culture. Meanwhile, others accepted her apology and said the situation was simply a misunderstanding.
Additionally, the incident touched on the conversation about how people can treat unfamiliar cultural traditions. Zaghroutas appear across parts of the Middle East and Africa and often mark joyful moments, including weddings and major family events.
Sabrina Carpenter’s apology is now her final word on the Arabic cheer at Coachella. She says she misread the moment and hopes to move forward without shutting down fans who celebrate in different ways.
