Rina Sawayama Critiques Sabrina Carpenter's 'SNL' Set

Rina Sawayama has voiced concerns about cultural representation following Sabrina Carpenter's recent SNL performance, highlighting issues with the show's production team's approach to Japanese cultural elements.

The Japanese-British artist took to Instagram Stories to address what she perceived as cultural insensitivity during Carpenter's performance of "Nobody's Son". The SNL set design drew inspiration from a karate studio and featured traditional Japanese tatami mats, but the execution drew criticism from Sawayama for its lack of cultural awareness.

"Big love to Sabrina but fellow artists creative teams … if we are clearly referencing a culture, please can you do so with the research, respect and care it deserves," Sawayama wrote. Her main concern centred on performers wearing shoes on the tatami mats, which she succinctly described as "jail" – referencing the cultural taboo of wearing footwear on these traditional Japanese floor coverings.

During Carpenter's performance, two red-belt opponents engaged in choreographed combat while wearing sneakers with their uniforms. Although Carpenter herself only briefly stood on the mats, the visual representation troubled Sawayama enough to speak out publicly about the cultural oversight.

The criticism comes from an artist who has previously discussed how pop music served as a bridge for her cultural integration after immigrating from Japan to London. Sawayama has spoken about music's power to connect people across cultural boundaries, drawing inspiration from artists including Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, and Lady Gaga throughout her career development.

The incident recalls previous controversies involving Western artists incorporating Japanese imagery into their work. Gwen Stefani notably faced similar scrutiny throughout her career for her use of Japanese cultural elements, with the artist defending her choices as recently as 2023 by claiming a deep personal connection to Japanese culture.

The tatami mat issue represents a specific cultural protocol – these traditional woven mats require barefoot interaction as a mark of respect in Japanese culture. The oversight suggests a gap between visual aesthetics and cultural understanding in the show's creative process.