It’s a “brat summer,” according to social media. But what exactly IS brat? And why is Vice President Kamala Harris involved?
The trend is inspired by British pop star Charli XCX’s album “Brat,” which was released on June 7 and features a neon lime green cover with the word “brat” in blurry black lettering.
On Sunday, Charli XCX showed her support of Harris by tweeting “kamala IS brat” shortly after President Joe Biden announced he was dropping out of the presidential race.
kamala IS brat
— Charli (@charli_xcx) July 22, 2024
Harris embraced the social media frenzy surrounding the album — and plethora of memes that have come along with it — for her presidential election campaign.
So what does that all mean?
“You are just that girl who is a little messy and maybe says dumb things sometimes, who feels herself but then also maybe has a breakdown but parties through it,” Charli XCX said in a TikTok interview, USA Today reported. “It is honest, blunt and a little bit volatile. That’s Brat.”
Singer Charli XCX deemed Kamala Harris a “brat” on Sunday in an X post, leading Harris’ social media accounts to embrace the brand. But what exactly is a “brat” and why does this celebrity-endorsed title matter?
— The Associated Press (@AP) July 23, 2024
The AP explains. pic.twitter.com/wQyixjvRvj
The album embraces “a hot-mess pop star aesthetic, prioritizing club culture at its core but still offering introspective lyrics on aging, womanhood, grief and anxiety,” USA Today said.
Brats have fun, embrace their community and are unapologetic in their individuality, USA Today said.
“Brat summer” is embracing the lifestyle associated with being a “brat” — as defined by Charli XCX.
The #bratsummer trend has nearly 1 million posts on TikTok, and the lime green theme has been used by thousands of individuals and businesses, according to BBC.
Poll of the day!! Topic: brat summer! ????
— Megan Swift (@mgswift7) July 23, 2024
What is brat? Curious as to how many people know what's going on considering the hilarious trending coverage this is getting...
Harris’ “Kamala HQ” account on the social media platform X features a reference to the album in its lime green banner with black lettering.
Biden HQ rebranded as Kamala HQ. The Brat banner image is gonna get the most attention but honestly it's the "providing context" bio that killed me ???? pic.twitter.com/yZWhazdOsf
— Alyssa Franke (@AlyssaFranke) July 22, 2024
Charli XCX’s tweet solidified Harris’ “brat status,” USA Today reported. Other artists’ tunes have been featured in various edits as well, including Chappell Roan’s “Femininomenon.”
My TikTok feed is covered in Kamala fancams. I've never seen anything like this (a thread) pic.twitter.com/fVozbh9W4L
— Joe (@JoePostingg) July 22, 2024
Kamala fans are too creative man what is this???????????? pic.twitter.com/4eKF3ijuZ6
— lucas???????????? (@Luctranada) July 22, 2024
why did I stay up till 3am making a von dutch brat coconut tree edit featuring kamala harris and why can’t I stop watching it on repeat pic.twitter.com/hqcmerD1Pb
— ryan (@ryanlong03) July 3, 2024
The viral posts could help Harris reach younger voters — who could play a pivotal role in the upcoming election, Reuters said.
Gen Z fans have turned the trend into an aesthetic, and Harris-related memes like her famed “coconut tree” line have taken the internet by storm.
are those… coconut trees? pic.twitter.com/UbWheoVbwQ
— Liz Charboneau (@lizchar) July 21, 2024
It’s an audio clip from a 2023 speech that was formerly criticized but is now being embraced by Gen Z as a sort of existential philosophy, according to Reuters.
“ ‘You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?’ ” Harris asks in the speech, quoting what her mother used to say, before laughing and then growing serious, Reuters said. “You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you.”
BRAT SUMMER into KAMALA PRESIDENCY ????????????????????????????
— Mikehole ????️???????????? (@MichaelDrummey) July 22, 2024
pic.twitter.com/EFitBuQh2L https://t.co/sbEsXGW2es
