Pop star Sabrina Carpenter called out for ’cosplaying’ as a barista to promote hit single Espresso

Singer Sabrina Carpenter’s latest promotional stunt, working a shift serving coffees to customers, has been met with backlash online.

Pop star Sabrina Carpenter’s latest promotional stunt has been met with backlash from some quarters.

Amid the success of her hit single Espresso, which she released in April and is still riding high in the charts, the singer surprised fans by visiting the Blank Street coffee shop in London.

But she wasn’t there as a customer – the singer, dressed in a Fendi two-piece ensemble, was there to work as a barista for a shift, serving espressos.

“She’s working late because she’s a baristaaaa,” the coffee shop’s official Instagram page said of the visit as they shared photos of the star posing on the counter.

“Thanks @sabrinacarpenter for popping by Charlotte St and serving up some me espressos.”

Sabrina Carpenter rocked up for her shift at the Blank Street coffee shop in London.

The singer worked behind the counter to serve espressos to customers.

Carpenter was there to promote her hit single Espresso.

In photos fans shared on Twitter at the collaborative Sabrina Carpenter X Blank Street event, the 25-year-old could be seen behind the counter taking orders. And she was thrilled to be able to connect with some of her British fans.

“Was so beyond happy to see so many of you after so long,” she later wrote on her Instagram Stories. “hope you liked your espresso’s I love you!!!!”

However, her visit did not sit well with critics who slammed the star for “cosplaying” a “minimum wage worker”.

“the worst gimmick a celebrity can possibly do,” tweeted one, while another wrote: “Working a minimum wage job isn’t a trend.”

“Rich people cosplaying as minimum wage workers is the corniest s**t in the world,” another person tweeted, while yet another critiqued: “so cute and wholesome when a celebrity cosplays a minimum wage worker as a publicity stunt then goes back to living a life of ultimate privilege.”

Fans were thrilled to see a famous face serving them.

But Carpenter’s promotional venture was not a hit online.

However, Carpenter got some love from other fans, who argued that the collab with the coffee house made sense given her single is titled Espresso.

“can ppl stop saying she’s cosplaying as a minimum wage worker she’s in full beat handing out promotional coffees this IS her literal job,” one fan wrote in her defence, while another wrote: “usually i hate on celebrities when they do s**t like this BUT to be fair her song is literally called espresso like this makes sense right.”

Carpenter performing at the 2024 Coachella Music Festival in April in Indio, California. Picture: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images

The singer has also come under fire in the last week after she featured her new boyfriend, Saltburn actor Barry Keoghan, in the music video for her latest single, Please Please Please.

In the clip, Carpenter pleads with her love interest played by Keoghan not to “embarrass” her, but some fans reckon he already has.

Before the Irish actor started dating the pop star, he was dating dental nurse Alyson Sandro, with whom he welcomed his son Brando in 2022.

The couple split mid-2023 before their son was a year old, and then he moved on with Carpenter later last year.

Carpenter is now dating Irish actor and Saltburn star Barry Keoghan. Picture: Michael TRAN / AFP

Keoghan plays her love interest in her ‘Please please please’ music video.

Sandro is still based in London, and some aren’t thrilled that Keoghan is being so public with his new relationship with Carpenter, travelling around to support her, when he has a child at home.

One fan online called it “cringe” and another said it was “embarrassing” to be dating a man who is so dedicated to a new relationship while his son is still a toddler.

It doesn't’t help that Keoghan’s ex has been liking online comments about raising children alone.

“More appreciation for mothers raising their kids practically by themselves. My mom was my hero!!! You’re already his hero too,” one person commented, which Sandro reportedly ‘liked’.

Despite the drama surrounding the relationship, Keoghan has nothing but nice things to say about his ex.

“She’s done a great job and she’s an incredible mother,” he recently told GQ.

Originally published as Pop star Sabrina Carpenter called out for ’cosplaying’ as a barista to promote hit single Espresso