Sabrina Carpenter apologizes for inappropriate reaction to traditional Arabic cheer at Coachella

“I could have handled the situation better”. The day after her remarkable show on the main stage of the Coachella festival, singer Sabrina Carpenter apologized to one of the festivalgoers who let out a cry of joy in the middle of a passage at the piano, interrupting the concert for a few seconds. On social networks, the 26-year-old singer explained that she reacted “without bad intention” and with « sarcasm » when she said from the stage: “What’s that scream?” Is this yodeling? I don’t like it, it’s weird. »

Since this event which occurred on Friday April 10 at the opening of the Californian festival, the pop star has been accused of“Islamophobia” by many Internet users. What she thinks is similar to “yodel” is in fact a traditional practice from Arab culture, “zaghrouta”. According to the educational site Arab America, it is a chant several millennia old and worn mainly by women in many cultures of North Africa and the Middle East to accompany rituals, moments of joy or mourning. It is also chanted during demonstrations.

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“I didn’t hear it correctly.”

Some Internet users criticize the American artist for having had an attitude “xenophobic” et “proudly displayed his racism in front of his fans and supporters”. Others accuse him of “normalize prejudice against Arabs at a time when Islamophobia and racism are on the rise”. Sabrina Carpenter denied not knowing about this practice and having reacted “in confusion”. “I didn’t see this person with my own eyes and I didn’t hear clearlyshe added in her apology message. Now I know what a zaghrouta is! I’m ready to welcome all the squeals and yodelling from now on. »

This is not the first time that this practice has been mocked during a global event. In February 2020, Shakira performed a zaghrouta on the Super Bowl stage in front of more than 100 million spectators. This time, the cry alerted the public who, according to CBS News, compared it to a turkey clucking. Friday April 17, Sabrina Carpenter will return to the big stage of Coachella for a second event date.