Sabrina Carpenter bragged about “suing the mayor” as she performed in New York City on Sunday night, breaking her silence on her link to Mayor Eric Adams’ federal corruption investigation.
“Shall we talk about how I sued the mayor?” the 25-year-old singer said to cheering fans as she took a break between songs at Madison Square Garden.
It was the first time Carpenter spoke publicly about her link to the New York City mayor’s corruption scandal, which began when she filmed scenes for her Feather music video in a Brooklyn church.
The Feather video, released last year, shows Carpenter dressed provocatively at a “funeral” for ex-boyfriends at the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Brooklyn. The group of rejected men then commit suicide, splashing the singer with fake blood.
The Diocese of Brooklyn was so appalled by the production of the video that they demoted the monsignor who approved the video – leading to an investigation that could uncover a series of misdeeds and possible crimes.
Sabrina Carpenter joked during a concert on Sunday about her link to New York Mayor Eric Adams’ corruption indictment
Initially, Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello claimed that Carpenter’s team “failed to accurately represent the video content” when he agreed to allow her to film a music video at the historic church.
“I sincerely apologize for this shameful representation which I wholeheartedly denounce,” Gigantiello, who also serves as FDNY chaplain, told his parishioners in a letter on Facebook.
“I agreed to the recording after a general search of the artists involved turned up nothing questionable.”
He further asked for forgiveness, but Bishop Robert Brennan said he was “shocked” by the production, which he called a “desecration of the church” in a statement relieving Gigantiello of his administrative duties.
The bishop then warned that he “takes this matter seriously and will look into it further” with a “broader administrative investigation into the church.”
Carpenter had filmed scenes for her Feather music video in a Brooklyn church, sparking outrage from church officials
The backlash prompted Bishop Robert Brennan to demote Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello (pictured), who approved the film’s shooting. The bishop also announced that he would conduct a “broader administrative investigation into the church.”
Then last week, federal investigators issued a subpoena to the church, asking for information about the “business dealings” between Gigantiello and Adams’ former chief of staff Frank Carone. NBC New York first reported this.
Carone served as the mayor’s chief of staff until he resigned in 2022 to run a consulting firm, and is now chairman of Adams’ reelection campaign.
When questions about that investigation arose, the Diocese of Brooklyn told NBC New York: “It would be inappropriate to comment further on that investigation, which is still ongoing.
“The diocese is fully committed to cooperating with law enforcement in all investigations, including conduct in individual parishes or involving priests.”
Some have speculated that the final sentence of the statement implies that Carpenter’s video clip recording may have led to a review of Gigantiello’s business dealings — and in turn, the federal investigation into Mayor Adams.
Last week, federal investigators issued a subpoena to the church, asking for information about “business dealings” between Gigantiello and Adams’ former chief of staff, Frank Carone.
Gigantiello and Carone have been photographed together and have been friends for decades, Political reports.
In fact, Carone said the monsignor was a close friend whom he admired for his “ability to unite and inspire our community through his work in our faith.”
He helped Gigantiello invest in real estate, deals that federal investigators have been examining for months while communicating with attorneys for the Diocese of Brooklyn.
But just days after news of the subpoena broke, Adams, 64, was indicted by a federal grand jury in a sprawling corruption probe that saw some of his top advisers resign.
He was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery and receiving campaign contributions from foreign nationals.
The mayor is also accused of defrauding New York taxpayers of $10 million through allegedly fraudulent campaign funds.
Adams, 64, was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury in a sweeping corruption investigation that has seen some of his top advisers resign
Prosecutors have said Adams abused the city’s system for matching campaign contributions with taxpayer money, “fraudulently obtaining as much as $2,000 in public funds for each illegal contribution.”
He would “rely on the hidden nature of these illegal contributions to falsely portray his campaigns as law-abiding,” the indictment said.
“As a result of these false statements, Adam’s 2021 mayoral campaign received more than $10,000,000 in public funds,” prosecutors said Thursday.
The indictment also alleges that Adams accepted a number of luxury gifts in his relationship with Turkish officials, including stays at luxury hotels in Istanbul.
He also allegedly pressured the FDNY to open a Turkish government high-rise building in Manhattan in exchange for “luxury travel benefits” — despite failing the building’s safety inspectors.
The New York Times reports that Adams’ relations with Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea and Uzbekistan are also under the federal microscope.
Adams pleaded not guilty to the charges in Manhattan federal court on Friday, claiming he was singled out by the Biden administration for his position on the migrant crisis.
He said in a pre-recorded statement Wednesday night, before the charges became public: “I now believe the federal government is trying to accuse me of crimes. If so, these accusations are completely false and based on lies.
‘But they won’t be surprising. I always knew that if I stood my ground in front of all of you, I would be a target. And I became a target.
“For months, leaks and rumors have been directed at me in an attempt to undermine my credibility and portray me as guilty,” the mayor continued.
‘Last week they searched the house of our new police commissioner, looking for documents from twenty years ago.
‘Enough.’
“I will fight these injustices with all my strength and spirit,” Adams declared.
‘If I am charged, I know I am innocent.
“I will request an immediate trial so that New Yorkers can hear the truth.”
He has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery and receiving campaign contributions from foreign nationals.
The political newcomer then pointed to his law enforcement background, which he leaned heavily on three years ago during a successful campaign in which he was touted as tough on crime.
“New Yorkers know my story and where I come from,” the former police chief said. ‘I have fought against injustice all my life. That fight has continued as your mayor.
Returning to the migrant situation that has seen 217,300 foreigners funneled into the city, he stated: “Despite our pleas, the federal government has done nothing because it has violated immigration policy. [and] our shelter system is overloaded.
“I put the people of New York above party and politics,” the mayor insisted – before a long pause.
He then admitted that he will likely face calls to resign, which he said he will continue to resist.
“But I’ve been confronted with these lies for months, ever since I started speaking out to all of you – and that’s where the investigation started,” he continued, claiming there was a conspiracy against him.
‘Yet the city has continued to improve.’
He then offered a final sign-off.
“You chose me to lead this city, and I will. I humbly ask for your prayers and patience as we process this. God bless you, and God bless the city of New York. Thank you.’