Rina Sawayama is speaking out after noticing something off in Sabrina Carpenter’s recent Saturday Night Live performance.
The 35-year-old John Wick actress and “XS” singer took to her Instagram Story to call attention to what she described as a lack of cultural sensitivity during Carpenter’s performance of “Nobody’s Son.”
Carpenter’s SNL stage featured a tatami mat, a staple of traditional Japanese martial arts spaces, with the pop star dressed in a karate-style outfit. Behind her, dancers sparred in choreographed martial arts movements — a clear creative nod to Japanese culture.
While Rina made it clear her comments weren’t personal, she wanted to address what she saw as a bigger issue in pop culture performances. “Big love to Sabrina,” Rina began, before adding a note of caution to creative teams.
“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,” she continued. Then came the zinger: “Shoes on tatami is jail,” she added with a crying face emoji.
For those unfamiliar, stepping on a tatami mat with shoes is considered deeply disrespectful in Japanese martial arts spaces.
Fans quickly flooded social media with mixed reactions. Some praised Rina for speaking up, calling her post “necessary” and “educational.” Others argued that the performance was an artistic interpretation rather than an intentional slight.
Still, the conversation sparked by Rina’s story underscores a recurring debate in pop culture: where to draw the line between cultural appreciation and appropriation. With her background as a British-Japanese artist who often explores identity and representation in her work, Rina has long used her platform to highlight these nuances.
