Sabrina Carpenter's confidence isn't controversial – it's just not male-approved.
Ahead of her Fortnite performance and the drop of her very own Fortnite Skin, Sabrina Carpenter is once again the subject of online backlash. The hate has been there since the start of her Short n' Sweet World tour, but now, with her reaching even broader audiences, the criticism has reached a new level.
The Juno Pose: Too Much, Or Just Not For Them?
At the center of the drama is the now-iconic “Juno Pose” – a cheeky, undeniably suggestive moment during her performance of her song Juno. For fans, it’s fun and theatrical. They even guess how she’ll remix it in each city. But critics – especially men – have labeled it “embarrassing,” “inappropriate,” or worse. Ironically, when Sabrina skipped the pose on April 1 as a harmless April Fools’ joke, people were still upset. So when she does it, she’s “doing too much.” When she doesn’t, she’s letting people down. It’s the classic no-win situation women in the public eye know all too well. Especially, one performance in Paris sent people into overdrive. The staging was bold, the pose dramatic, and the online outrage intense.
Men Only Complain When It’s Not for Them
Why are people hating on the Fortnite festival Sabrina Carpenter skin? pic.twitter.com/kUrpexVf5A
— Fortnite Leaks (@FortniteFNLK) April 5, 2025
The real problem? She’s not performing for men. And that’s exactly what makes some people uncomfortable. Sabrina’s not trying to appeal to the "male gaze" – she’s creating a space where femininity, creativity, and sexuality can be fun, girly, bold, and on her terms. The pose isn’t there to provoke – it’s there because it’s hers. It's become some kind of an inside joke between her and her audience and is nothing more than a fun, cheeky part of her show. And let’s not ignore the double standard: male artists can have degrading lyrics, sexually explicit visuals, even real-life allegations – and no one bats an eye. Meanwhile, a woman dancing confidently in a sparkly outfit becomes the internet’s latest problem.
What’s especially frustrating is that the criticism isn’t just coming from men. Some women have joined the backlash too, calling the pose “pathetic” or “try-hard.” But let's not forget: Everyone's entitled to their opinion, and that's okay. So, here's mine.
Let’s Stop Pretending This Is About Children
A popular argument among critics is concern for children, as if Sabrina’s show is somehow damaging to young viewers. But let’s be real: the vast majority of her audience is made up of young adults and women, not children. And if kids are in the audience, that’s the responsibility of their parents and not Sabrina’s. And yet, I rarely hear anyone raising the same concerns when male artists – often idolized by young boys – fill their shows with explicit content.
So What’s the Real Issue?
Yes, the pose is very suggestive. No one’s denying that. But it’s also a performance choice – a creative, confident, self-aware expression that fits the overall tone of her tour. We should stop only allowing female sexuality when the narrative is controlled by someone else.
So we have to ask ourselves: Why does female confidence – especially when it's expressed through sexuality – still make people so uncomfortable?
Nobody Is Making You Watch
If you don’t like it, just look away. No one’s forcing you to watch the Fortnite event, buy tickets to her concerts, stream her music, or follow her performances. Let Sabrina and the people that like her have fun. According to Sabrina herself, it's never for "the guy", but for "the girls and gays" anyway.
What are your thoughts? Are you excited for the Sabrina x Fortnite event? Personally, I can’t wait to buy her skin – and see what Juno pose she pulls off next.