Pop singer Sabrina Carpenter addressed the controversy over filming her music video in a Catholic Church.
In an interview with Variety, Carpenter, 24, spoke about the music video for her song “Feather” at the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Brooklyn, New York.
“We got approval in advance,” she explained.
Additionally, Carpenter stated, “Jesus was a carpenter.”
In the music video, released on Halloween, Carpenter is dressed in a black mini-dress and is seen dancing around the church’s sanctuary, which is considered a “sacred place for Catholics that ought to be reserved solely for worship,” per The Spectator.
Bishop Robert Brennan of the Brooklyn Diocese slammed the video and revealed an investigation into how the filming was approved was underway.
“Bishop Brennan is appalled at what was filmed at Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Brooklyn. The parish did not follow Diocesan policy regarding the filming on Church property, which includes a review of the scenes and script,” a Diocesan spokesperson read in a statement.
The spokesperson continued, “The parish reports that the production company failed to accurately represent the video content. Bishop Brennan is taking this matter seriously and will be looking into it further.”
Following the video’s release, the diocese told the outlet Brennan led a Mass of Reparation to “restore the sanctity of the space” within the church.
“This morning, Bishop Robert Brennan presided over a Mass of Reparation at Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Church after the desecration of the church during the filming of a music video. Through the offering of this Mass, Bishop Brennan has restored the sanctity of this church and repaired the harm,” a spokesperson said.
Additionally, Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, the parish priest, was removed from his position as vicar for Development for the Diocese of Brooklyn after documents provided by Carpenter’s production company to the parish, before filming “portray[ed] inappropriate behavior unsuitable for a church sanctuary.”
All profits given to the church from Carpenter’s production team will be donated to a crisis pregnancy center.