Sabrina Carpenter's GRAMMY performance of "Manchild" dazzles, but her use of a live bird sparks backlash from PETA. Discover the controversy!
- February 2, 2026
AceShowbiz - Sabrina Carpenter delivered an impressive performance at the 2026 GRAMMY Awards on February 1, showcasing her hit song “Manchild” amidst a stunning retro airport-themed set. However, her choice to feature a live bird during her act has sparked significant backlash from animal rights organization PETA.
During her captivating showcase, which left the audience spellbound, Sabrina Carpenter held a live bird, prompting PETA to express their disapproval through a social media post that stated, “Leave animals out of the #GRAMMYs!”
PETA's post questioned, “Did @SabrinaAnnLynn really just bring a bird on stage in 2026?!” They further criticized the performance, suggesting that the Manchild singer exhibited “childlike behavior.” Alongside their comments, the organization shared a blurry image of Carpenter with the bird, overlaying it with her song lyrics. The caption read, “Hey Sabrina, bringing a live bird onto the Grammys stage is stupid, slow, useless … and cruel! Bright lights, loud noise, and handling cause fear and distress for a bird who belongs flying free in the open sky.”
Billboard has reached out to representatives for Sabrina Carpenter for an official response regarding the incident.
PETA has a history of publicly calling out celebrities for their treatment of animals. In the past, they criticized Britney Spears for opting to purchase a puppy instead of adopting a rescue dog and condemned Pharrell Williams for his crocodile-skin Louis Vuitton bag.
Sabrina Carpenter performed early in the ceremony, following openers ROSÉ and Bruno Mars, who thrilled the audience with their hit “APT.” Although Carpenter did not win any awards at the event, she was one of the most nominated artists of the night, garnering six nominations, including song and record of the year for “Manchild” and album of the year for Man’s Best Friend. This placed her in a tie for the third-most nominations alongside Bad Bunny, Leon Thomas, and mixing engineer Serban Ghenea.
In the end, Billie Eilish took home the award for song of the year for “Wildflower,” while Kendrick Lamar and SZA claimed the record of the year for “Luther.” Benito’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos won album of the year.
