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Sabrina Carpenter won the Album of the Year Award at the 2025 MTV VMAS. In her speech, she thanked her fans and called “criticism, discrimination and negativity” directed at the queer and trans community. Early in the ceremony, she performed her new song, “Tears.”
Sabrina Carpenter won her second MTV VMA tonight and won the Album of the Year award for Short N’Sweet. Wearing a sequined fringe gown, the singer, decorated with Tiffany & Company’s jewelry, used her acceptance speech on stage, thanking fans for listening to her album. Her “Tears” performance was followed by multiple trans performers and drug performers, and while she was a homage to trance rights, Carpenter also thanked “Queens on Stage Tonight.”
“This world can be full of criticism, discrimination and negativity, as we all know,” she said. “So, to be part of something… it can bring you light, make you smile, make you dance, and make the world feel like (your) – I’m so grateful.”
Read her full speech below:
Thank you, VMA. This is my second Moonman and is so crazy. When you take the time to listen to albums from your life, I don’t take it for granted. If it’s enough to be my album, I’m very grateful if it’s a short n’s sweet, this album, it’s a man’s best friend, my new album, or it’s one of my 29s.
I am the lucky girl in the world. And I’m with my incredible cast, dancers and queens on stage with me tonight, this world can be filled with criticism, discrimination and negativity, as everyone knows. So, I am so grateful to you to bring light to you, to make you smile, to make you dance, to be part of something that the world can feel like it’s yours. I am so grateful to you all, but most importantly, to thank my fans as they have been there for me.
And the last thing I say is that every artist who has been nominated and played here tonight stands incredible just standing here. You all meant so much to me and were so inspiring to me that I thank you for letting me be in this room with you. I love you so much.
Carpenter was one of the most nominated artists tonight with eight nods. She won Best Album (Short n’Sweet) and Best Pop Artist, but her music video “Manchild” received nominations for Video of the Year, Best Pop Song, Best Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Best Visual Effects.
Carpenter was able to spend a big VMA night next year. She has just released her new album, Man’s Best Friend, and is eligible for the 2026 ceremony. The singer won her first VMA at the 2024 show.
In June, Carpenter spoke with Rolling Stone about writing “Manchild.”
“I always think of life and my music like a film,” she prehaded. “This is 25 years old. But I never felt like a main character in an adult movie than when I heard the song. That’s how I wanted to feel the video.”
“Manchild” gathered more spontaneously than several other tracks. “It was one of those times (it came out so suddenly, naturally). That’s why it felt more special,” she said. “(I am) going to die if I’m not in the studio where I’m writing anything right now,” she added, “I need to understand what I’m feeling and what I’m going through and put it on paper.”
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