Sabrina Carpenter had no idea her newest music video would cause such an uproar in the Catholic community, but here we are. It all started on October 31, when Carpenter released a music video for her song, ‘Feather.’ It didn’t take long for the video to go viral, but it seemed to be for all the wrong reasons.
The bulk of the video was filmed inside (and outside) the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – a Catholic church located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. While Carpenter and her film crew got permission to film inside the church, members of the church were ‘appalled’ when they saw the visuals that were used.
this 30 second clip is the only part of her in the church and all she's doing is standing and walking in a poofy dress. there is nothing demonic happening at all. pic.twitter.com/gREc1xvAQF
— ashley ???? 4 + 6 (@betubrina) November 2, 2023
Wearing a short black tulle dress – equipped with a veil – Carpenter can be seen dancing around the church and altar. One coffin, which represented one of the men she had killed, read ‘RIP B***H.’ There was also a vase filled with a dark liquid that read ‘RIP’ and a tombstone that read “He Was Just Okay.”
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According to the Catholic News Agency, it was Monsignor Jamie J. Gigantiello who allowed Sabrina Carpenter to film in the church. He’s claiming that Sabrina and her team ‘failed to accurately represent the video content,’ but took full responsibility for his actions on Facebook just one week after it was released.
“While I take full responsibility for the erroneous decision to allow the filming, I want to assure you that I had no knowledge that such a scene would be filmed in our church while we worked so hard to restore to its present sacred beauty,” Gigantiello wrote – expressing his sincere regret and asking for forgiveness.
At the time, Bishop Robert J. Brennan appointed a temporary administrator of the church (replacing Gigantiello, who remained a pastor). Gigantiello was also stripped of his tenure as Vicar of Development for the Diocese, which held for more than 15 years. One month later, the consequences continued.
After holding a Mass of Reparation at the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to restore the sanctity of the church, Brennan relieved Gigantiello – who has been a priest for 29 years – of his administrative duties at the church for failing to ‘follow diocesan policy regarding the filming on Church property.’
Sabrina Carpenter Responds to Criticism
While Sabrina Carpenter has been rather quiet during this dilemma, she broke her silence in an interview with Variety, published on November 29 – just a few days after the parish was relieved of his duties. From her perspective, she and her team did exactly what they were supposed to do – they got permission.
Sabrina Carpenter has no comment on scandalizing the Catholic Church with her "Feather" music video: "Gotta go, girl!" | Variety Hitmakers presented by @sonyelectronics https://t.co/hmQuUd5Zxz pic.twitter.com/SEZbQc5Zvn
— Variety (@Variety) December 2, 2023
“We got approval in advance, and Jesus was a carpenter,” she said – doubling down in support of the music video. Whatever she’s doing, it appears to be working. The former Disney alum’s music video has received nearly 14 million views over the past two months and has brought a lot of media attention with it.
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And it came at the right time. She opened for Taylor Swift five times between November 9 and 26 – twice in Argentina and three times in Brazil – as part of the international leg of her Eras Tour. She also opened for Taylor Swift in August – three shows in Mexico. The 24-year-old is making headlines left and right.