PETA called out Sabrina Carpenter online after her Grammy performance on February 1. The singer brought a real bird onstage during her set in Los Angeles. The 26-year old star, performed “Manchild” as she held a dove. The animal rights group slammed the pop star for this choice.The organization posted on social media with an image of Carpenter and the bird. PETA used words from her song lyrics in their criticism."Hey Sabrina, bringing a live bird onto the Grammys stage is stupid, slow, useless … and cruel! Bright lights, loud noise, and handling cause fear and distress for a bird who belongs flying free in the open sky," PETA said.The group posted another message."Did Sabrina Carpenter really just bring a bird on stage in 2026?! The 'Manchild' singer is giving childlike behavior. Leave animals out of the #GRAMMYS!" the organization wrote. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostAs per a report shared by Us Weekly, Carpenter had six nominations at this year's ceremony and even opened the show that night. One of those was in a major category for the song she performed. Carpenter created an airport setting for her number. Near the finale, she sat inside a prop airplane that looked like it was taking off. Sabrina Carpenter then revealed the dove she was holding. The bird moved its wings while she gripped it until the song finished.Fans slammed Sabrina Carpenter for bringing live bird onstage after PETA criticism:68th GRAMMY Awards - Show - Source: GettyInstagram users flooded PETA's post with critical comments about Sabrina. Many questioned her choice to include the animal in her performance."I love Sabrina but I saw the bird and I was like why?" commented Gina Cadena."Why is she performing with animals?" asked Linda Gibney."As I was watching, I was questioning why people are still using live animals for entertainment," shared Tarynedm."I love Sabrina!! But I hope she doesn't bring an animal onstage ever again, that was hard to watch," added Olivia Stoker.This wasn't the first time Carpenter faced criticism for her creative decisions. As per a report shared by Us Weekly, her album from August 2025 sparked controversy among fans and social media users. Lyrics from “Manchild” were viewed by some as an ableist slur.“It’s all just so familiar, baby, what do you call it? Stupid / Or is it slow? / Maybe it’s useless? / But there’s a cuter word for it. I know, Manchild”The specific wording in the song created debate online. Sabrina Carpenter then discussed the negative reaction during a September interview with Interview magazine last year. She shared her perspective on the situation."You can be sure that anything I do and say has a little bit of a wink to it. If I'm being completely transparent, I don't do anything anticipating what the reaction will be," Carpenter responded at the time.She went into more detail about how she approaches her work."I only do things that speak to me, that feel right, and make sense when you hear the music. When I came up with the imaging for it, it was so clear to me what it meant. So the reaction is fascinating to me. You just watch it unravel and go, 'Wow,'" she added.Sabrina Carpenter revealed she uses wit to protect herself after discussing complicated relationship with men:68th GRAMMY Awards - Show - Source: GettySabrina Carpenter discussed her complicated views on men during a September 2025 interview with Vogue Italia. The pop star talked about the concept of women needing to train them. Carpenter also shared why she relies on sarcasm in her public and private life."I do think that men have been a super entertaining species to watch. In positive and negative ways. I feel really adored and inspired and loved by some of them...and really confused and attacked and ridiculed by others," Carpenter said.She made a joke about her friends who become mothers to sons."When one of my female friends announces that she's having a son, I just rejoice for that young boy. Because I know he's going to be raised right," she laughed.The singer then shared her thoughts on gender dynamics."Correct me if I'm wrong, I've only been on Earth for 26 years, but I feel like we've always kind of had to train them. Unfortunately, it's a tale as old as time," she said.Sabrina Carpenter explained how she approaches sharing her viewpoints through comedy."Part of life is making light of moments that maybe make us uncomfortable, or at least, that is for me," she said.She discussed how her sense of humor has protected her."My whole life I felt like humor was just this, and it wasn't even always humor, I think it was usually just sort of a wit that kind of saved me. It was always there to make sure that at the end of the day I was protecting myself for the future," Carpenter shared.