Pop singer Charli XCX says her Kamala tweet was not a political endorsement, but rather meant to be “something positive and lighthearted.”
With a reference to her latest studio album, “Brat,” Charli took to X, formerly Twitter, to tell her 3.6 million followers, “Kamala IS brat,” after President Joe Biden stepped down as the Democratic presidential nominee and officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him.
Shortly after, Harris’ campaign, aware that Charli’s co-sign could have a huge impact on young voters, began posting “welcome to kamala hq” on their social media accounts in the style of the “Brat” album cover.
“The mainstream media breathlessly interpreted the viral moment as proof that the youth might turn out at the polls,” New York Magazine reported.
Though Charli is not an American citizen and therefore cannot vote in the upcoming November election, after her post went viral, she told New York Magazine it’s “important” to be on the “right side of democracy.”
“To be on the right side of democracy, the right side of women’s rights, is hugely important to me,” she said. “I’m happy to help to prevent democracy from failing forever.”
Charli clarified, however, “She is not, nor has she ever been, nor does she want to be ‘a political artist.’”
“My music is not political,” she said. “Everything I do in my life feeds back into my art. Everything I say, wear, think, enjoy — it all funnels back into my art. Politics doesn’t feed my art.”