In a significant turn of events following President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris, pop star Charli XCX’s endorsement has sparked a wave of support for Harris, permeating social media with a vibrant cultural twist.
Charli XCX, boasting a substantial following of 3.6 million on the platform X, expressed her backing for Vice President Harris with a succinct declaration: “Kamala IS brat,” a nod to her latest album and the emerging “brat summer” trend that has captivated Gen-Z audiences. The post garnered over 18 million views and 244.6K likes, resonating widely among her fanbase.
The term “brat summer” has been coined by Charli XCX and embraced by Gen-Z as a departure from last year’s “clean girl” aesthetic, replacing it with a bold neon green hue symbolizing the trend’s rebellious spirit. Model Julia Fox serves as the muse for this movement, celebrated for embodying a persona that Charli XCX describes as “honest, blunt, and a little bit volatile,” reminiscent of icons like Courtney Love, Amy Winehouse, and Ke$ha in their respective eras.
@flextillerson kamala harris edit to 360 by charli xcx. brat presidency #kamalaharris #kamala #biden #harris2024 #charli #charlixcx #brat #360
Following Biden’s announcement, the official @BidenHQ campaign account on X swiftly rebranded as @KamalaHQ, positioning itself as the “official rapid response page of Vice President Harris’ presidential campaign.” The campaign leveraged Charli XCX’s endorsement, adapting its visual identity to mirror the aesthetics of the Brat album, utilizing lowercase font against a slime green backdrop.
On platforms like TikTok, content creators seized upon Harris’ memorable quotes, integrating them with Charli XCX’s music from the Brat album to create viral remixes. One notable example is a mashup by @ryanlong03, featuring Harris set to the Brat soundtrack, which amassed over three million views on X.
In addition to the “brat summer” meme, supporters of Harris revived a viral quote attributed to her from a previous White House event, where she rhetorically challenged critics: “Do you think you just fell out of a coconut tree?” This phrase has been repurposed online to defend Harris as the preferred candidate over Biden, should an open convention arise.
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President Biden’s endorsement of Vice President Harris marked a pivotal moment in her campaign, garnering support from a diverse array of celebrities including Jamie Lee Curtis, Cardi B, Kathy Griffin, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jon Cryer, Robin Thede, Rosie O’Donnell, Lizzo, and Spike Lee. Their endorsements underscore Harris’ growing influence and appeal within cultural and political spheres alike.
As Harris navigates the evolving landscape of the 2024 presidential race, her alliance with cultural influencers like Charli XCX and widespread endorsement from prominent figures position her campaign as a formidable force, reshaping the narrative and engaging a new generation of voters through innovative digital strategies and cultural resonance.
