Sabrina Carpenter Had Part of Her Grammys Performance Censored During Broadcast

Sabrina Carpenter drew a lot of attention at the Grammy Awards on Sunday night after part of her live performance was muted on television. The moment happened while she was performing her song Manchild, which includes explicit lyrics. Viewers watching at home noticed that some lines were cut during the live broadcast, while the audience inside the arena heard the full version.

The performance took place at the Crypto.com Arena and was shown live on network television. producers muted several words to keep the performance within TV guidelines. Fan videos shared online later confirmed which lyrics were removed from the televised version.

Manchild is widely seen by fans as a song about emotional immaturity, and many believe it references Carpenter’s past relationship with actor Barry Keoghan. The song includes pointed lines about an ex who keeps coming back while refusing to grow up. Those sharper moments are where the censorship appeared to happen.

Carpenter leaned fully into the performance theme. She arrived on stage dressed as a pilot in a white corset-style outfit with high lace-up boots. The set was designed like an airport, complete with a fake baggage belt labeled Sabrina Carpenter Airlines. She opened the performance by playing the role of a captain and asked the crowd if they needed some validation.

The singer was joined by backup dancers dressed as airline workers and passengers. The scene leaned into playful chaos, with characters like a priest and even an astronaut appearing on stage. Despite the broadcast cuts, the crowd reacted loudly throughout the song. Carpenter ended the performance by releasing a white dove, a moment that later drew criticism from PETA, according to statements shared with the media.

Manchild is the lead single from Carpenter’s 2025 album Man’s Best Friend. The album was released last August and has performed strongly on the charts. Since the song’s release, fans have closely followed its lyrics and timing, linking it to her very public breakup.

Reaction online was immediate. Social media quickly filled with clips, praise, and commentary about the performance. Many fans said Carpenter clearly enjoyed herself on stage and showed full control of the moment, even with the censorship during the live TV broadcast.

Outside of music, Carpenter has a packed year ahead. According to studio announcements, she is set to produce and star in a musical adaptation of Alice in Wonderland for Universal Pictures. The film will be directed by Lorene Scafaria and produced by Marc Platt.

She is also confirmed as a headliner for Coachella, where she will share top billing with major names like Justin Bieber and Karol G. On television, Carpenter recently hosted Saturday Night Live and is scheduled to appear in a special 50th-anniversary revival of The Muppet Show alongside Kermit the Frog and Seth Rogen.

With six Grammy nominations, a growing film career, and viral performances, Carpenter continues to move far beyond her early Disney image. Even with parts of her Grammys set censored, her performance became one of the most talked-about moments of the night.

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