What is 'brat summer' and why the Charli XCX meme has taken over, explained

What is this "brat summer" and what does it have to do with Kamala Harris? We'll explain.

Welcome to FTW Explains, a guide to catching up on and better understanding stuff going on in the world. Have you seen some stuff about “brat summer” and something about a Charli XCX meme and how Kamala Harris is somehow being called “brat”? And you’re very confused about that whole thing? Don’t worry. We’re here to help.

I think we just summed it up above, but: yeah. “Brat” is all the rage right now, from music to a meme, and we’re here to help you understand what the heck that means (full disclosure: I was one of those people until recently!).

Let’s dive in:

What the heck is “brat”?

British singer/songwriter Charli XCX just released her newest album in June. Guess what? It’s called Brat. It has a green cover, which has led to a lot of people doing stuff like this:

Is brat good design? pic.twitter.com/QUpcicksX1

— Dylan Field (@zoink) July 24, 2024

It's a brat summer in Miami pic.twitter.com/l2owBRLEAf

— Miami Hurricanes (@MiamiHurricanes) July 25, 2024

the original brat #littleshopnyc pic.twitter.com/QtS2aSj1De

— Little Shop of Horrors (@littleshopnyc) July 24, 2024

People are also doing a TikTok dance to the song Apple and it is so good:

@thepitmansisters

apple doesn’t fall far @Charli XCX

♬ Apple – Charli xcx

IF STEPHEN COLBERT CAN DO THE APPLE DANCE, SO CAN YOU GEORGE pic.twitter.com/iBDmeGW7ig

— /ˈtinɑ/ ⎕ (@hazyheadbigcity) July 23, 2024

OK, but what is “brat summer” then?

In the tradition of other trends we’ve seen like “Hot Girl Summer,” it’s a way of embodying the coolness of that trend. So whatever you’re feeling while listening to Brat, you’re embodying that this summer.

Why are people calling Kamala Harris “brat”?

Good question! It’s a way of calling her cool — Charli XCX tweeted as much — although there’s some confusion around that.

kamala IS brat

— Charli (@charli_xcx) July 22, 2024

Wait, they’re not calling her a brat, right?

Correct.

@fallontonight

Kamala Harris is having a brat summer @Charli XCX #FallonTonight #TonightShow #KamalaHarris #Charlixcx #brat #bratsummer #JimmyFallon

♬ original sound – FallonTonight

Wow, this is all a lot.

That’s brat summer for you.