The English pop sensation Charli XCX's casual tweet proclaiming "Kamala is 'brat'" unexpectedly soared into a cultural phenomenon, co-opted by Harris' presidential campaign with a wave of momentum. Reluctantly, Charli found herself at the center of a political storm, her playful tweet about Vice President Harris morphing into a defining moment in this year's presidential race.
In the spotlight of New York magazine's cover story, the pop star was confronted with the polarizing social media post, and she divulged that it was a spur-of-the-moment message, penned while lounging in her Los Angeles poolside oasis. Far from a calculated political endorsement, it was meant as a "positive and lighthearted" greeting to the newly minted presidential nominee.
However, Charli's endorsement of Harris inadvertently catapulted her album, 'Brat'—already buzzing with its 'no cares' vibe, viral star-filled remixes, and eye-popping green cover—into the political fray. Harris' campaign embraced 'Brat', transforming it into a meme that reverberated across CNN and Fox News. Even Bill Maher chimed in, likening Harris' 'brat' persona to "like Trump." Amidst this flurry, it's worth noting that while Charli owns property in the US, she isn't an American citizen, ineligible to cast a ballot in this election.
"Aligning myself with democracy and women's rights is paramount to me," Charli asserted, addressing her support for Harris amidst the election buzz. "I'm elated to contribute, however small, to safeguarding democracy's future." She candidly confessed, "Did I foresee my jokes about being a messy partygoer, yearning for a Bic lighter and Marlboro Lights, ending up on CNN? Absolutely not." Charli emphasized her desire to express her political stance but refrained from donning the mantle of a "political artist," quipping, "I'm no Bob Dylan, nor have I ever aspired to be."
She elaborated, "My art is a reflection of my life's tapestry—my words, attire, thoughts, and pleasures all weave into my creative fabric. But politics doesn't nourish my art; it's merely a backdrop." As the 'Brat summer' wanes, Harris' campaign continues to embrace 'Brat' as a pivotal brand element, evident in the DNC where Senator Cory Booker sported a cap declaring "NJ is Brat," and Mindy Kaling quipped about Nancy Pelosi's early embrace of the 'Brat' spirit. Attendees donned lime green shirts, embodying the lingering influence of Charli's playful tweet turned political mantra.
