Sabrina Carpenter’s witty comeback to Catholic Church controversy is perfectly petty

Worshiping a pop diva can be a religious experience. Sabrina Carpenter made that feeling literal in her recent music video for “Feather,” which was partially shot at a Catholic church in Brooklyn — majorly angering the church in the process.

The Diocese of Brooklyn said in a statement that it was “appalled at what was filmed” in the church, including Carpenter dancing on the altar in a short dress and props with curse words written on them. The church’s pastor, Monsignor Jamie J. Gigantiello, was even removed from his administrative position for having signed off on the video, and Brooklyn Bishop Robert Brennan celebrated a Mass of Reparation to restore the sanctity of the church.

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Now, Carpenter has clapped back at the Church in an interview with Variety.

“We got approval in advance,” she said, “and Jesus was a carpenter.”

It’s impossible to argue with the facts. Carpenter’s brazen response earned her a lot of respect from the internet, along with a plethora of new fans.

She CHEWED ARE YOU KIDDING IM A FAN NOW

— ♔ 𝓙𝓲𝓷 𝓛𝓪 ‘ 𝓓𝓪𝓶𝓮 ♗ (@TheeHoneyBey) November 30, 2023

This comeback is only the latest display of Carpenter’s sharp wit. She’s also known for the custom outros to her hit song “Nonsense,” which she changes depending on the city she’s performing in. While opening for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tours, she’s made crowds roar with dirty wordplay and local references. (Take her outro from a recent show in Buenos Aires: “When I’m in the bedroom lookin’ sexy / He’s having a ball, he call me Messi / Argentina, will you be my bestie?” she sang, referencing the country’s iconic football star.)

“These are kind of the jokes I make on a daily basis,” Carpenter said about her “Nonsense” outros. “Humor is such a healing part of my life. And I use it in everything — that’s how a lot of my songs happen.”

It’s only up from here for Carpenter, who recently dropped a holiday EP, Fruitcake, as a follow-up to her critically acclaimed album emails i can’t send.

“I never would have expected that going on a tour would have amplified the songs the way that it did,” she said. “And I just feel lucky that people have found them in different places and now see them in different lights. I’m just as astounded as anyone else.”

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We’re officially confused.