Pop star Sabrina Carpenter was celebrated at the Variety Hitmakers 2025 event in Los Angeles this weekend, accepting a major award just days after a very public spat with the White House over the use of her music.
A Night of Celebration Amidst Controversy
The 26-year-old Grammy winner, who recently faced backlash over her Man's Best Friend album artwork, was named Hitmaker of the Year at the Saturday ceremony. The award was presented by her frequent collaborator, record producer Jack Antonoff.
Carpenter brushed aside the ongoing political drama as she took to the stage. She wore a striking strapless gown with intricate patterning, her blonde hair styled in soft, middle-parted curls. Keeping accessories minimal, she added a radiant touch with pink blush and a nude lip colour.
Songwriting Advice and a Nod to Fans
In her acceptance speech, Carpenter opened up about her creative process, which began when she was just ten years old. "The easiest way to write a bad song is to try to write a hit," she advised the audience, according to Variety. "Write the opposite of what you think a hit is. Write what speaks to you, write something that only you can write."
She encouraged fellow artists to embrace their unique voice, suggesting they "add the weird chord progression and key change, and call men stupid in as many ways as you can." The singer also reflected on the joy of creativity sparked by "the privilege to be in a room with things that make noise."
Carpenter made sure to credit her supporters, gushing, "Thank you to the fans that learn the lyrics and sing the songs and make them hits - whatever that means."
The White House Feud Escalates
The celebratory evening came against the backdrop of a heated exchange with the White House. Earlier in the week, Carpenter had slammed the Trump administration for using her track Juno in a social media reel celebrating arrests made by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The singer posted on X, formerly Twitter, stating, "This video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda."
The White House responded pointedly, with spokesperson Abigail Jackson issuing a statement that referenced Carpenter's 2024 album Short n' Sweet and lyrics from her song Manchild: "Here's a Short n' Sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter... Anyone who would defend these sick monsters must be stupid, or is it slow?"
The trolling continued on Friday when the White House shared an edited clip from an SNL promo featuring Carpenter. In the original, she joked about arresting someone for being "too hot." The White House version replaced "hot" with "illegal," captioning it: "PSA: If you're a criminal illegal, you WILL be arrested & deported."
This is not an isolated incident under the current administration. Last month, singer Olivia Rodrigo similarly criticised the White House for using her song All-American B**** in a video aimed at illegal immigrants.
Carpenter's political views have been apparent before; following Donald Trump's election victory last November, she told a concert audience in Seattle, "Sorry about our country," and expressed hope the show could be "a moment of peace."
