Brooklyn Priest Who Let Sabrina Carpenter Film Music Video in Church Stripped of Duties

By Precious Fondren

A Brooklyn priest who gave pop singer Sabrina Carpenter the green light to film part of the video for her single “Feather” in the church has been further relieved of his responsibilities following an investigation, according to the Associated Press. 

Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, the now-former leader of Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Annunciation Parish in Williamsburg—where the video was filmed—will no longer hold his position of power after it was uncovered that he funneled nearly $2 million of the church’s money to accounts connected to a former chief of staff to Mayor Eric Adams, according to reports. 

“I am saddened to share that investigations conducted by Alvarez & Marsal and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP have uncovered evidence of serious violations of Diocesan policies and protocols at Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Annunciation Parish,” Bishop Robert Brennan said in a statement release by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. “In order to safeguard the public trust, and to protect church funds, I have appointed Bishop Witold Mroziewski as administrator of the Parish.”

With approval from Mroziewski, Gigantiello can continue to say Mass, but otherwise he’s been stripped of his pastoral and administrative duties after the church further uncovered how he improperly used funds for personal purposes and did not record the transactions. 

Carpenter’s “Feather” video was filmed in Brooklyn last year and features numerous toxic men meeting their fate in almost cartoonish ways as Carpenter croons about feeling relief after cutting ties. At one point, she’s seen inside the church in an all-black tutu dress, dancing in front of the altar and multicolored pastel coffins. The video has amassed over 100 million views since its Oct. 31, 2023, release date. 

Gigantiello released a letter apologizing to the community for approving the video shoot last November, saying his decision was a “lapse of judgment.”

“The parish staff and I were not aware that anything provocative was occurring in the church,” he said in the letter. “While I take full responsibility for the enormous decision to allow the filming, I want to assure you that I had no knowledge that such a scene would be filmed in our church which we worked so hard to restore to its present sacred beauty.

“All I ask of you is your forgiveness and prayers and that you be at my side, as I have been for you for the last 29 years of my priesthood.”

Carpenter acknowledged the controversy surrounding the video and its role in Adams’ legal issues during a New York City tour date in September.  

“Should we talk about how I got the mayor indicted?” she jokingly asked the crowd.