Sabrina Carpenter Spotlights Drag Royalty And Trans Rights At The VMAs
Backed by drag legends and ballroom icons, Sabrina Carpenter turned her performance into a showcase of queer visibility.
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At the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday, Sabrina Carpenter used her performance of “Tears” to spotlight drag queens and trans performers alongside her own pop spectacle. With Drag Race stars, ballroom icons, and bold messages lifted high on placards, the set positioned queer artistry at the center of one of music’s biggest nights.
Carpenter opened the number by climbing out of a manhole before launching into choreography with RuPaul’s Drag Race alums Willam, Symone, and Denali. Honey Balenciaga, a ballroom legend and Beyoncé tour veteran, joined the group, as did Legendary host Dashaun Wesley.
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As the song built, Carpenter crossed to the other side of the stage where Laganja Estranja and Lexi Love emerged, adding more Drag Race royalty to the lineup. Around them, dancers and queens raised signs with messages like “Protect trans rights,” “Support local drag,” and “Love each other,” alongside cheekier slogans such as “If you hate you’ll never get laid” and “Don’t hate drag queens because you can’t read.” At one point, Carpenter stepped into a phone booth and disappeared while the stage filled with even more placards, making the advocacy impossible to miss.
Later in the night, Carpenter accepted the award for Best Album with Short n’ Sweet and took a moment to honor the performers who shared the stage with her. “To my queens: This world, as we all know, can be so full of criticism and discrimination and negativity. So to get to be part of something… that can bring you light, make you smile, make you dance, and make you feel like the world is yours… I’m so grateful. So grateful to do that,” she said.
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The ceremony also saw Lady Gaga crowned Artist of the Year, a reminder that queer-rooted pop continues to dominate at every level. And for the girl group KATSEYE, the night marked their first-ever nomination, signaling a fresh wave of voices stepping onto the main stage.
The 2025 VMAs were broadcast not only on MTV and Paramount+ but also live on CBS, bringing Carpenter’s collaboration with drag and trans performers to one of the widest audiences in the show’s history.
