Oscar-nominated thespian Colman Domingo doesn’t let internet negativity get him down after playing his eye-catching music video debut in Sabrina Carpenter’s new single, “Tears.” The thespian, accustomed to dramatic acting turns, caught fans off guard by playing in drag and channeling a Dr. Frank-N-Furter-like character from The Rocky Horror Picture Show in a glam-overflowing, gender-bending visual showpiece.
A Campy, Unapologetic Tribute
Directed by Bardia Zeinali, the video follows the storyline from Carpenter’s previous “Manchild” video. It begins with Carpenter crawling out of a car accident and being swept away into a glittering world by Domingo’s chic and compelling character. He takes her through a sweaty makeover, complete with a disco-tinged dance session with queens in glittering outfits. The look is theatrical camp, embracing queerness, power, and joy.
Domingo Responds to Backlash
Even with the video’s lightheartedness and creativity, it caught some flak from some sides of social media. One X user complained, “Colman Domingo is a fine actor. Had to put him in drag in Sabrina Carpenter’s video huh?” Though not mentioned, Domingo responded graciously: “It’s a character. Like all the characters I play. Calm down brother. Enjoy the video and the fun that it possesses. Dance it out! It ain’t that deep.”
He continued to cite drag legend RuPaul: “‘We are born naked and everything else is drag.’ Suits, t-shirts, dresses. All drag.”
Celebrating Collaboration and Queer Joy
Punters were shocked and thrilled to see Domingo. “Colman Domingo dancing in drag with Sabrina Carpenter was not on my 2025 bingo card,” one of them commented. Domingo reposted it with laughing faces and said, “Didn’t see that coming did ya? Thank you Sabs for inviting me to really play.”
Carpenter, who recently dropped her seventh studio album Man’s Best Friend, posted about Domingo’s performance. “The incomparable, magnetic, and amazing Colman Domingo,” she captioned on Instagram. “Wish we were still dancing in the street at 4 am.”
A Bold Message of Inclusion
Domingo’s late-night tease before the video premiere”Protect all the Dolls” was a quietly powerful tribute to trans women and the LGBTQ community. His appearance in the video, and the happiness it exudes, is a celebration of queerness, artistry, and collaboration in mainstream pop culture.
