Sabrina Carpenter, host and musical guest on this week’s “Saturday Night Live,” joked about her provocative image in a lively monologue. The pop star suggested she is more than just a sexually charged figure, blending humor and music throughout the opening segment.
“Everyone thinks of me as a horndog pop star, but there’s more to me,” Carpenter said. “I’m not just horny. I’m also turned on and sexually charged. And I love to read. My favorite book is the encyclopedia. It’s so big and hard…”
Carpenter highlighted the controversial cover photo of her recent “Man’s Best Friend” album. “Some people got a little freaked out,” she said. “It was me on all fours with an unseen figure pulling my hair. But if you zoom out, it’s from the 50th anniversary special of Bowen Yang helping me up after Martin Short shoved me out of the buffet line.”
She emphasized that there is more to her personality beyond the sparkles, wigs, and corsets. Carpenter engaged with the audience during her monologue, approaching a young man named Will from Maryland. “Ooh, what a sexy, unusual place. I love talking to normal people. They’re fascinating when they’re real like you,” she joked. When he revealed he worked in venture capital, she quickly moved on.
Carpenter also playfully involved Kenan Thompson. “The last thing I like to do at my concerts is arrest someone for being hot. So who here can I arrest tonight?” she asked. Thompson appeared with pink handcuffs, claiming he was arresting her for impersonating an officer 200 times at her concerts. Carpenter joked that a personalized Cameo from her would cost $200,000, adding that anyone else could find her on Venmo.
The monologue followed a Domingo sketch where Carpenter and other women at a birthday party sang humorous versions of Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” and Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra,” spoofing a bachelorette-style trip to Nashville.
For her first musical number, Carpenter performed her No. 1 hit “Manchild” with playful energy. She bounced on a bed wearing a yellow “SNL” T-shirt and pink underwear, surrounded by the band and joined by a sax soloist. The second number, “Nobody’s Son,” featured a martial-arts-themed stage. Controversy arose when east coast viewers heard Carpenter sing “fucked up” twice uncensored, while west coast viewers reported audio cuts at the same moments.
Carpenter’s monologue and performances highlighted her bold humor and willingness to challenge audience expectations. By blending risqué jokes with playful interactions, she reaffirmed her multifaceted persona as a singer, performer, and entertainer.
The episode generated immediate buzz on social media, with fans applauding her comedic timing and energetic performances. Carpenter’s approach demonstrates how contemporary pop stars are merging music, humor, and live performance into dynamic television appearances.
Sabrina Carpenter’s SNL hosting further cements her as a versatile artist willing to push boundaries while engaging directly with her audience. Her blend of humor, music, and daring visuals keeps viewers entertained and talking long after the broadcast.
