Honestly, if you were on the internet in late 2024, you probably saw the thumbnail. You know the one. Two of the biggest Gen Z icons, Sabrina Carpenter and Jenna Ortega, locked in a blood-soaked, campy embrace. It wasn't just a random paparazzi snap or a leaked onset photo. It was the centerpiece of the music video for "Taste," the lead track from Sabrina’s smash-hit album Short ‘n Sweet.
The scene was pure chaos. People were losing their minds. Was it a "cultural reset"? Or just really good marketing?
The "Taste" Music Video: Why Everyone is Talking
Let's get one thing straight: the moment featuring Sabrina Carpenter making out with Jenna Ortega wasn't some romantic ballad clip. It was part of a gruesome, Death Becomes Her-inspired slasher parody. Directed by Dave Meyers, the video is basically three minutes of the two stars trying to brutally murder each other. We’re talking shotguns, chainsaws, and voodoo dolls.
The "makeout" happens during a hallucinatory sequence. Jenna’s character is kissing her boyfriend (played by Rohan Campbell), but as the lyrics suggest—"You'll just have to taste me when he's kissin' you"—she starts seeing Sabrina instead.
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It’s a literal interpretation of the song’s petty, "I was here first" energy.
Breaking Down the Viral Moment
The internet reaction was swift and loud. Within 24 hours, the video racked up over 13 million views. Fans on TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) went into a frenzy, dissecting every frame. But beyond the shock value, there's a lot of craft here.
- The Aesthetic: It’s "slasher core" meets high fashion.
- The Chemistry: Sabrina and Jenna have been friends since their Disney Channel days (Girl Meets World and Stuck in the Middle), which made the rivalry feel weirdly authentic.
- The Twist: The video ends with them accidentally killing the guy and becoming best friends at his funeral.
Is it Queerbaiting or Just Art?
Whenever two high-profile "straight-coded" stars share a screen kiss, the "queerbaiting" discourse starts. It’s inevitable. Some fans felt the scene was purely for the male gaze or "clout," while others argued it fit the satirical tone of the video.
Sabrina herself hasn't spent much time defending the creative choice, mostly because the video is so clearly a work of fiction. It’s a horror-comedy. In a world where Jenna Ortega gets her arm hacked off and Sabrina falls onto a picket fence only to get back up, a surreal kiss feels like just another plot point.
The song "Taste" is widely rumored to be about the 2023 love triangle involving Sabrina, Shawn Mendes, and Camila Cabello. If you look at Jenna Ortega’s styling in the video—the dark hair, the specific vibe—many fans pointed out she bears a striking resemblance to Camila. Casting her wasn't an accident. It was a 4D chess move.
What the Experts Say
Cultural critics have noted that this video marks a shift in how pop stars handle "scandal." Instead of hiding from rumors, Sabrina leans into the mess. She uses the "psychosexual transference" of the lyrics to create a visual that is impossible to ignore.
Nuance matters here. It’s not a "coming out" moment. It’s a campy tribute to 90s cult classics.
How to Spot the Easter Eggs
If you’re going back to rewatch the Sabrina Carpenter making out with Jenna Ortega scene, keep an eye out for these niche references:
- Kill Bill: Jenna’s nurse outfit with the red cross eye patch.
- Addams Family Values: Sabrina’s white dress and feathered boa (a nod to Debbie Jellinsky).
- Psycho: The shower scene where Sabrina attacks Jenna with a machete.
- Ginger Snaps: The iconic picket fence impalement.
The "makeout" is really the "clickbait" that gets you in the door, but the cinematography is what keeps you there.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're trying to keep up with the Short 'n Sweet era, here’s how to engage with the "Taste" phenomenon:
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- Check the Credits: Watch the "Behind the Scenes" footage on YouTube. You’ll see that the kiss was actually a lighthearted moment between two long-time friends who were laughing between takes.
- Listen to the Lyrics: The song isn't actually about a girl-on-girl romance; it’s about the "ghost" of an ex-girlfriend haunting a new relationship.
- Follow the Timeline: This collaboration solidified Sabrina and Jenna as the "it-girls" of 2024/2025, culminating in their matching outfits at the 2025 Met Gala after-party.
The buzz around the video eventually settled, but it changed the bar for what a "viral" music video looks like in the mid-2020s. It wasn't just about the kiss; it was about the subversion of expectations.