Sabrina Carptenter
“Damn. What now? Should we talk about how I got the mayor indicted?”
Lauren Taylor
GOOD QUESTION – SABRINA CARPENTER. NOW, WHILE IT APPEARS THE POP MUSIC SUPERSTAR WAS JOKING WHEN ASKING THAT QUESTION TO HER FANS AT HER MADISON SQUARE GARDEN CONCERT SUNDAY NIGHT – REPORTS ARE CIRCULATING OF A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE “ESPRESSO” SINGER AND THE RECENT INDICTMENT OF NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS.
AND IT BEGAN HERE…
LAST YEAR — CARPENTER SHOT THE MUSIC VIDEO TO HER SONG “FEATHER” INSIDE BROOKLYN’S ANNUNCIATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY CHURCH – A VIDEO FILLED WITH SCENES OF BLOOD AND VIOLENCE.
AFTER IT WAS RELEASED — MONSIGNOR JAMIE J. GIGANTIELLO– WHO GAVE THE OK FOR CARPENTER TO FILM HER VIDEO INSIDE THE 160-YEAR-OLD CHURCH FOR A FEE OF 5 THOUSAND DOLLARS — WAS DEMOTED BY THE DIOCESE OF BROOKLYN AND THE CHURCH WAS RECONSECRATED BY A BISHOP.
GIGANTIELLO ISSUED AN APOLOGY LETTER TO PARISHIONERS SAYING HE HAD AGREED TO THE FILMING TO “FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE BONDS BETWEEN THE YOUNG CREATIVE ARTISTS” IN THE COMMUNITY AND THE PARISH AND ADDED — AFTER A QUOTE “GENERAL SEARCH OF THE ARTIST DID NOT REVEAL ANYTHING QUESTIONABLE.”
WHEN QUESTIONED ABOUT THE VIDEO BY VARIETY – CARPENTER SAID QUOTE “WE GOT APPROVAL IN ADVANCE.”
IN A STATEMENT OF ITS OWN – THE DIOCESE SAID BROOKLYN BISHOP ROBERT BRENNAN WAS “APPALLED” OVER THE MATTER AND WOULD “BE LOOKING INTO IT FURTHER” WITH A “BROADER ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW INTO THE CHURCH.”
THEN WE GET TO ABOUT A WEEK AGO – WHEN NBC NEWS NEW YORK REPORTED FEDERAL INVESTIGATORS WERE LOOKING AT THE BUSINESS DEALINGS BETWEEN GIGANTIELLO AND FRANK CARONE – THE FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF OF MAYOR ERIC ADAMS.
THE NEW YORK POST ASKING FOR A COMMENT FROM THE DIOCESE AND IF THE CARPENTER’S MUSIC VIDEO PLAYED A ROLE AT ALL –
THE DIOCESE RESPONDED – “IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE TO COMMENT FURTHER ON THAT REVIEW, WHICH IS STILL ONGOING. THE DIOCESE IS FULLY COMMITTED TO COOPERATING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT IN ALL INVESTIGATIONS, INCLUDING CONDUCT AT INDIVIDUAL PARISHES OR INVOLVING ANY PRIEST.”
THE POST AND OTHERS TAKING THAT LAST LINE TO MEAN THAT INDEED THE CLOSER LOOK INTO CARPENTER’S VIDEO DEAL LED TO A REVIEW OF GIGANTIELLO’S BUSINESS DEALINGS – AND SUBSQUENTLY THAT OF THE MAYOR.
BECAUSE JUST DAYS AFTER THAT NBC NEWS REPORT CAME OUT — ADAMS WAS INDICTED BY A GRAND JURY – CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT WIRE FRAUD, FEDERAL PROGRAM BRIBERY, AND RECEIVING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FOREIGN NATIONALS.
ADAMS HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO ALL CHARGES.
ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER — LAST WEEK – GIGANTIELLO, AN FDNY CHAPLAIN — APPEARED TO BRIEFLY COMMENT ABOUT THE REPORTS DURING SUNDAY MASS – SAYING QUOTE “I NEED YOUR PRAYERS.”
AND NOW SABRINA CARPENTER HAS ALSO COMMENTED — AS THE SITUATION IN NEW YORK CONTINUES TO UNFOLD.