Charli XCX has reluctantly embraced her tweet calling Kamala Harris a “brat” who is becoming a phenomenon during this year’s presidential election.
In his New York Magazine cover story, the pop star was asked about her divisive social media statement about the vice president. She explained that she wrote it while relaxing by the pool at her Los Angeles home, not with a political endorsement in mind, but rather “something positive and lighthearted” to welcome the new presidential candidate.
However, the English singer's approval for Harris led to her album, Rascal — which had already become part of the zeitgeist this summer with the music’s “no cares” attitude, star-studded viral remixes, and eye-catching green cover — has been co-opted by Harris’s political campaign and turned into a meme. Now Harris’s “brat” status has been discussed on CNN and Fox News. Even Bill Maher has weighed in, saying that Harris being “brat” sounds “like Trump.” Never mind that while Charli owns property in the United States, she is not a US citizen and cannot vote in this election.
“Being on the right side of democracy, being on the right side of women’s rights, is incredibly important to me,” Charli said of her support for Harris becoming a talking point this election. “I’m happy to help prevent democracy from failing forever.”
“I thought talking about being a messy bitch and, like, partying and needing a Bic lighter and a pack of Marlboro Lights would end up on CNN? No,” she admitted. Charli made it clear that while she wanted to share her political stance, she has no desire to be a “political artist,” noting, “I'm not Bob Dylan and I've never pretended to be.”
“Everything I do in my life flows into my art. Everything I say, wear, think, like, it all flows into my art. Politics doesn't fuel my art,” Charli continued.
While “Rascal “summer” has run its course, Harris' campaign has continued to use Rascal as part of her branding, which was particularly evident at the DNC. Sen. Cory Booker sported a “NJ is Brat” cap. Mindy Kaling also said that Nancy Pelosi was “doing Rascal Before Rascal era Rascal.” DNC attendees also showed up in slime green T-shirts.