Sabrina Carpenter boasted about “getting the mayor prosecuted” while performing in New York City on Sunday night, breaking her silence about her link to the federal corruption investigation of Mayor Eric Adams.
“Should we talk about how I got the mayor prosecuted?” 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 his connection to the New York City mayor’s corruption scandal, which began when he filmed scenes for his Feather music video in a Brooklyn church.
Feather’s video, released last year, shows Carpenter dressed provocatively at an ex-boyfriend “funeral” held at Brooklyn’s Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The group of scorned men then commit suicide, splashing the singer with fake blood.
The Diocese of Brooklyn was so shocked by the production of the video that they demoted the monsignor who approved it, sparking an investigation that potentially unraveled a series of misdeeds and possible crimes.
Sabrina Carpenter joked about her connection to New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ corruption accusation at a concert on Sunday.
At first, Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello claimed that Carpenter’s team “failed to accurately represent the content of the video” when it agreed to allow him to film a music video at the historic church.
“I offer my sincerest apologies for this disgraceful depiction that I wholeheartedly denounce,” Gigantiello, who also serves as an FDNY chaplain, told his parishioners in a letter posted on Facebook.
“I agreed to the shoot after a general search of the artists involved revealed nothing questionable.”
He continued to ask for forgiveness, but Bishop Robert Brennan said he was “horrified” 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 “is taking this matter seriously and will investigate it further” with a “broader administrative review of the church.”
Carpenter had filmed scenes for his Feather music video in a Brooklyn church, sparking outrage from church officials.
The backlash led Bishop Robert Brennan to demote Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello (pictured), who approved the film’s shooting. The bishop also announced that he would carry out a “broader administrative review of the church.”
Then last week, federal investigators issued a subpoena to the church, seeking information about “business dealings” between Gigantiello and Adams’ former chief of staff, Frank Carone. NBC New York first reported.
Carone had served as the mayor’s chief of staff until he resigned in 2022 to run a consulting firm and now chairs Adams’ re-election campaign.
When questions were raised about that investigation, the Diocese of Brooklyn told NBC New York: “It would be inappropriate to comment further on that review, which is still ongoing.”
“The Diocese is fully committed to cooperating with authorities in all investigations, including conduct at individual parishes or involving any priest.”
Some have speculated that the last sentence of the statement implies that the filming of Carpenter’s music video 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, seeking 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.
Carone even 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 probing for months as they communicate with lawyers 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 wide-ranging corruption investigation that has led to the resignation of some of his top aides.
He was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bribery of federal programs and receiving campaign contributions from foreign nationals.
The mayor is also accused of defrauding New York City taxpayers of $10 million through allegedly fraudulent campaign funds.
Adams, 64, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Thursday in a wide-ranging corruption investigation that has led to the resignation of some of his top aides.
Prosecutors have said Adams took advantage of the city’s system of matching campaign contributions with tax dollars and “fraudulently obtained up to $2,000 in public funds for each illegal contribution.”
According to the indictment, he allegedly “relied on the hidden nature of these illegal contributions to falsely represent that his campaigns were law-abiding.”
“As a result of those false certifications, Adam’s 2021 mayoral campaign received more than $10,000,000 in public funds,” prosecutors said Thursday.
The indictment also claims that Adams’ relationship with Turkish officials led him to accept a series of luxury gifts, including stays at luxurious Istanbul hotels.
He also allegedly pressured the FDNY to open a Turkish government-owned skyscraper in Manhattan in exchange for “luxury travel benefits,” even though the building failed safety inspectors.
The New York Times reports that Adams’ dealings 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, saying he was singled out by the Biden administration because of his stance on the immigration crisis.
He said in a prerecorded statement Wednesday night, before the indictment became public: “I now believe the federal government is trying to charge me with crimes.” If so, these accusations will be completely false and based on lies.
But they won’t be a surprise. 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 20 years ago.
‘Enough.’
“I will fight these injustices with every ounce of my strength and my spirit,” Adams declared.
‘If they accuse me, I know I am innocent.
“I will call for an immediate trial so New Yorkers can hear the truth.”
He has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, bribery of federal programs and receiving campaign contributions from foreign nationals.
The political newcomer proceeded to point to his law enforcement experience, which he leaned heavily on three years ago during a successful campaign touting him as tough on crime.
“New Yorkers know my story and they know where I come from,” the former police captain said. ‘I have been fighting injustice all my life. That fight has continued as its mayor.
Turning to the immigration situation that has seen 217,300 foreigners funneled into the city, he proclaimed: ‘Despite our pleas, the federal government did nothing as it has broken its immigration policies (and) overloaded our shelter system.
“I put the people of New York before party and politics,” the mayor continued, 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 have been facing these lies for months, since I started speaking on behalf of all of you and that’s when the investigation began,” he continued, alleging a conspiracy against him.
“However, the city has continued to improve.”
He then offered a final farewell.
‘You chose me to lead this city, and I will lead it. I humbly ask for your prayers and patience as we make this happen. God bless you and God bless New York City. Thank you.’