Sabrina Carpenter apologizes for calling Arabic 'zaghrouta' cheer 'weird' at Coachella

The pop star faced backlash after dismissing a fan's traditional Arabic celebration during her festival performance.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 8:59am

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An abstract close-up photograph of glittering gold and silver sequins, capturing the glamour and high-energy of a music festival stage in dramatic, high-contrast lighting.Carpenter's insensitive comments about a traditional Arabic cheer at Coachella sparked backlash, underscoring the need for greater cultural awareness from mainstream artists.Indio Today

Sabrina Carpenter, a headliner at the 2026 Coachella music festival in Indio, California, paused her set after hearing a fan perform a traditional Arabic 'zaghrouta' cheer. The pop star responded by calling the cheer 'weird', sparking online debate and criticism over her dismissive reaction to the cultural expression.

Why it matters

Carpenter's comments highlighted ongoing issues of cultural insensitivity and appropriation at major music festivals, where artists are expected to be more aware and respectful of diverse fan communities. The incident reignited discussions about the need for greater inclusion and understanding of minority cultural traditions in mainstream entertainment.

The details

During her Coachella performance, Carpenter stopped singing after hearing a fan in the crowd perform a 'zaghrouta' - a traditional Arabic vocal cheer often used to express joy or celebration. The pop star then told the audience, 'That's weird, I've never heard that before.' Her remarks were met with immediate backlash on social media, with many fans and commentators criticizing Carpenter for her dismissive and disrespectful reaction to the cultural expression.

  • Carpenter's Coachella performance took place over the April 10-12 weekend of the 2026 festival.
  • The pop star made the controversial comments about the 'zaghrouta' cheer during her set on April 11, 2026.

The players

Sabrina Carpenter

An American pop singer and actress who was a headlining performer at the 2026 Coachella music festival in Indio, California.

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What they’re saying

“That's weird, I've never heard that before.”

— Sabrina Carpenter, Pop singer

What’s next

Carpenter issued a public apology on social media the following day, acknowledging her comments were 'insensitive' and promising to 'do better' in the future to be more respectful of diverse cultural traditions.

The takeaway

Carpenter's dismissive reaction to the traditional Arabic 'zaghrouta' cheer highlights the need for greater cultural awareness and sensitivity from mainstream artists, especially when performing at diverse, global music festivals like Coachella. This incident serves as a reminder that artists must be more mindful of respecting minority cultural expressions within their fan communities.