Charli XCX might think Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris is brat, but some AACC students say she’s not.
In fact, they told Campus Current, no politician can be brat because no politician is ever authentic. Brat, as defined by the hyperpop singer, means, loosely, unapologetically authentic.
“I wouldn’t say I would describe her as authentic,” first-year business administration student Kaleia Techur said. “I think she just says what people want to hear.”
Some said Harris is trying too hard to be brat to get the young vote.
“She’s, like, really trying to appeal to the younger people, but with the music and what language she’s using,” second-year theater student Milo Starling said.
But a few called Harris “authentic.”
“Kamala is very true to herself and her beliefs, and she’s very open and honest about that with the public,” second-year education student Lily Peaper said. “And she’s doing, like, the best she can to, like, realize those actions. And to me, that is brat, being, like, authentically yourself.”
Charli XCX released a chart-topping album called “Brat” in June and later referred to the vice president, who is running for president against former President Donald Trump, as brat—as a compliment.
The artist tweeted on July 21, a few hours after President Joe Biden dropped out of his race for re-election, “Kamala IS brat.”
Brat skyrocketed over the summer not only as an album but as a movement.
Adults, teens and kids began wearing lime green, the color of the album cover, and claiming things they do are brat.
Even Harris embraced the brat movement by making the background of her campaign’s X profile lime green.
Harris’ famous “fell out of a coconut tree” speech got remixed into Charli XCX’s song “360” from her “brat” album and went viral on social media.
A few students told Campus Current they believe they are brat, too.
“Yes, I’m passionately lazy,” second-year transfer studies student Christopher Robinson said.
“Yeah, I agree [I am brat],” Techur said.
Most students said Trump is not brat.
“No, I think he is very fake and only saying things that he thinks that … the people who are most likely to vote for him want to hear, so I think he is appealing to that side of people, rather than the issues that mean the most to him personally,” Peaper said.
First-year communications student Morgan Brown agreed Trump is not brat.
“He seems a little bit more made up, if that really makes any sense,” Brown said. “It’s not really all that authentic or anything. He might be like, following what his PR [public relations] team does a lot or not really working with his PR team.”