Sabrina Carpenter advocates for trans rights during MTV VMAs performance: “In trans we trust”

Sabrina Carpenter turned the 2025 MTV VMAs into a huge dance party with her ‘Tears’ performance, which also saw her celebrate and advocate for trans and LGBTQ+ rights – watch the full performance below.

• READ MORE: Sabrina Carpenter – ‘Man’s Best Friend’ review: pop’s bawdy troubadour hits the melodic G-spot

The 2025 MTV VMAs took place last night (September 7) at the UBS Arena in Long Island. A highly anticipated moment of the entire awards show was Sabrina Carpenter’s performance, which lived up to fans’ expectations.

For her performance, she played ‘Tears’, taken off her latest album ‘Man’s Best Friend’. The performance saw the singer appear from underneath a manhole cover to join a slew of drag and trans performers and other dancers onstage.

Throughout the performance, dancers in the background held up hand-drawn signs that read “Protect Trans Rights”, “In Trans We Trust”, “Support Local Drag”, “Love Each Other” and “If You Hate You’ll Never Get Laid” among others. Later on, Carpenter ditched her shimmery top for a dance break that saw sprinklers rain down on her and her dancers, a la Flashdance.

Watch the full performance below.

Elsewhere at the VMAS, Sabrina Carpenter also won Album Of The Year for last year’s ‘Short N’ Sweet’, Pop Artist and Best Visual Effects for her ‘Manchild’ music video. During her acceptance speech for Album Of The Year’, Carpenter doubled down on her support for the queer community, thanking her “queens on stage”.

“This world, as we all know, can be so full of criticism and discrimination and negativity,” she said in her speech. “So to get to be part of something that can bring light, make you smile, make you dance, and make you feel like the world is your fucking oyster. I’m so grateful to do that.”

Witnessing Short n’ Sweet by @SabrinaAnnLynn winning Best Album? Filing under #VMAs moments I’ll cherish forever! pic.twitter.com/rMwdHntpi9

— Video Music Awards (@vmas) September 8, 2025

As for her new album ‘Man’s Best Friend’, that record scored a four-star review from Nick Levine for NME: “Given Carpenter’s fondness for even a dodgy double entendre, it feels fitting to end on one. With ‘Man’s Best Friend’, she’s done more than enough to keep herself on top.”

Elsewhere at the 2025 MTV VMAs, Ariana Grande took home the night’s biggest award, Video Of The Year’ for ‘Brighter Days Ahead’, while Lady Gaga was crowned Artist Of The Year, Rosé and Bruno Mars won Song Of The Year for ‘APT.’ and Mariah Carey was awarded the Video Vanguard award for her historic career. Yungblud and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry have also paid tribute to the late Ozzy Osbourne with a touching performance. Check out the full list of winners here. 

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