Sabrina Carpenter Brings Drag Race Queens and Trans Rights to 2025 VMAs
Sabrina Carpenter lit up the stage at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards with a performance that was as bold politically as it was musically. The pop star performed her new single “Tears” from her latest album Man’s Best Friend, and she didn’t do it alone.
Drag Race Royalty Joins the Stage Carpenter was joined by a lineup of RuPaul’s Drag Race fan favorites, including Denali, Willam, Symone, Laganja Estranja, and Lexi Love. Their presence added flair, theatricality, and unmistakable queer visibility to the high-energy set. But this wasn’t just about the spectacle.
A Call for Trans Rights Mid-performance, Carpenter’s backup dancers and drag queens held up signs advocating for trans rights, with messages designed to amplify the voices of the trans community at a time of heightened political debate over gender identity care. The gesture underscored Carpenter’s reputation as a vocal ally of the LGBTQIA+ community and turned her VMAs set into a statement about visibility, resistance, and love.
Music Meets Activism The VMAs have always been a stage for artists to spark conversation, and Carpenter embraced that tradition. Her performance of “Tears” combined choreography, costume changes, and advocacy into a show-stopping moment that resonated far beyond the arena. For fans, it was another reminder that Sabrina Carpenter isn’t just making hits — she’s using her platform to push for change.
