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When Charli XCX posted on X that "kamala IS brat" in late July, she didn't anticipate it becoming a newsworthy talking point.
In an interview with Vulture, the pop star explained that her comment was intended as "something positive and lighthearted" rather than a political endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris.
She told the outlet she posted it while hanging out at the pool at her home in Los Angeles while waiting for her fiancé to make lunch.
However, the Harris campaign quickly embraced the term, adopting the color "brat green" on social media and mimicking the album's low-res, lowercase aesthetic.
It also became a subject of discussion on talk shows.
CNN's Jake Tapper said, "I will aspire to be brat." Even Fox News discussed it.
And many politicians got on board with a "brat" summer.
Charli XCX previously described "brat" as a girl who is a "little messy" and likes to party, "maybe says some dumb things sometimes," and is "honest, blunt, and a little bit volatile."
Reflecting on the situation, Charli XCX told Vulture: "Did I ever imagine that talking about being a messy bitch who parties and needs a Bic lighter and a pack of Marlboro Lights would end up on CNN? No."
She told the outlet that while she doesn't consider herself a "political artist," she added, "I'm happy to help to prevent democracy from failing forever."
The album Brat debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 album chart. It became Charli XCX's best-charting album to date, and captured the zeitgeist this summer.
At the time of reporting, the "kamala IS brat" X post had more than 55 million views.
