Pop star Sabrina Carpenter pulled double-duty on the Oct. 18 episode of Saturday Night Live, serving as both host and musical guest and delivering two vivid performances from her new album Man’s Best Friend. One of those numbers, “Nobody’s Son,” staged in a dojo-style setting, has sparked conversation about cultural respect.
In the routine, Carpenter sang against a backdrop styled like a Japanese martial arts hall, complete with tatami mats, gis and choreographed fighting sequences. The performance featured herself in a kimono-style robe with platform heels, accompanied by dancers clad in sneakers marching and sparring on the tatami floor.
The visuals captured attention. A major pop moment, but also one that caught the critical eye of British-Japanese singer Rina Sawayama the next day.
Rina Sawayama Speaks Out
In an Instagram Stories post on Oct. 19, Sawayama praised Carpenter with a heart emoji: “Big love to Sabrina ❤️.” She then addressed the show’s creative team: “If we are clearly referencing a culture, please can you do so with the research, respect and care it deserves.” The kicker: “Shoes on tatami is jail 😭.”
Tatami mats have deep roots in Japanese living and ritual spaces. They are traditionally entered barefoot, or in socks, to protect their woven igusa plant fibre construction and maintain a sense of calm in rooms used for prayer or formal gatherings. Wearing shoes on them is seen as a breach of etiquette. Sawayama zoomed in on the dancers’ footwear in the performance clip to underline the point.
Why the Issue Matters
This isn’t simply a picky detail. Using cultural signifiers on stage can be powerful, but they also come with responsibilities. For many in Japan and beyond, tatami mats are more than aesthetic props, they carry meaning about home, tradition and respect. When such elements are used in a performance context without adequate attention to their background, critics say it risks reducing culture to a theme.
Sawayama’s call wasn’t necessarily a condemnation of Carpenter herself but a nudge to the creative team. The post targeted the “creative teams” specifically, implying this is about thoughtful execution rather than personal attack.
Fan Reactions: Two Camps
“Sabrina Did Nothing Wrong”
- Some fans argue that Carpenter’s set was an homage, not a mishandling, and that the attention is overblown. One supporter wrote: “The visuals were fun, the floor looked cool, who cares about shoes?”
- A second added: “It’s literally SNL. My god these snowflakes”
“Rina Has a Valid Point”
- On the other side, viewers agreed with Sawayama: “Respecting cultures in art is crucial for authenticity.”
- Others noted: “Rina’s absolutely right cultural references can be beautiful if they’re done with care and respect”
- A few watchers felt the call-out was an important reminder: “Artists gotta remember that cultural references aren’t just fun props. Do your homework or face the music.”
What’s Next?
Neither Carpenter’s team nor SNL has publicly responded to Sawayama’s post as of now. But the incident is generating buzz both for the performance itself and for the lessons it raises about cultural representation in entertainment.
Meanwhile, Carpenter’s performance also attracted attention for other reasons: she dropped two uncensored “F-bombs” live during “Nobody’s Son,” adding to the episode’s headline-making moments.
