How NYC Mayor Eric Adams (allegedly) killed 'brat summer'

It was fun while it lasted. “Brat summer” is dead, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams killed it.

At least, so says the internet. Around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, the self-described “ nightlife mayor ” dealt the cultural phenomenon its alleged death blow by posting his own version of the Charli XCX viral meme, which has taken over social media and even infiltrated Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign .

“BRAT SUMMER IS OFFICIALLY OVER,” declared City Councilmember Chi Ossé of Brooklyn. And from the advocacy group Transportation Alternatives : “Comms managers all over the city are shedding a quiet tear. Time to pack it up, folks.”

And the onslaught continued. But let’s bump back a step...

'kamala is brat'

If you don’t know what “brat summer” is … well, you just might be the highest-ranking elected official in New York City.

The trend was born out of British music artist Charli XCX’s latest album “brat” and its accompanying marketing campaign. The dance pop album features club music and themes of womanhood, partying and drugs.

Shortly after the album’s release in June, it was declared (by people online) that summer 2024 was “brat summer.” The album's lime green cover could be seen across the internet — and walls in Greenpoint and other communities .

Charli XCX explained the concept on TikTok : “That girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says dumb things sometimes, who feels herself but then also maybe has a breakdown but parties through it. It’s very honest. It’s very blunt — a little bit volatile, does dumb things, but, like, it’s brat. You’re brat. That’s brat.”

Brat is an aesthetic, a vibe and a lifestyle — at least for the chronically online. Over the last month-and-a-half, the phenomenon launched Charli XCX, who largely stayed on the periphery of mainstream internet culture, into the limelight.

When Harris announced her presidential campaign after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race this past weekend, video compilations of her various viral speech clips collided online with the brat aesthetic. Soon enough, the internet was ablaze with Kamala/brat content.

Then, Charli XCX made it official. “kamala IS brat,” she announced on X.

Harris’ campaign leaned into it, with her @KamalaHQ account adopting the album’s green color and font for its X header photo.

'The best what?'

Fast forward to Tuesday, when PIX11 reporter Henry Rosoff asked the mayor about brat summer during his weekly press conference at City Hall.

The video edit posted by Adams' office later on captures the interaction. It starts with Rosoff asking, “What is your advice to Vice President Harris on how to have her best brat summer?” Dance music plays in the background.

“The best what?” Adams answers. “Do her ‘brat?’ Is it called ‘brat?’ OK, am I a ‘brat?’ I hope I’m not a ‘brat.’ Tell her to come to New York and be a ‘SOP’ — summer of possibility .”

New Yorkers collectively groaned at the mayor's attempt to tap into the zeitgeist.

“I think the trend is officially over,” journalist Katie Honan wrote .

“This is why we can't have nice things,” writer Sophie Vershbow posted.

The publication City & State reacted with a meme of its own , showing a person being turned away from the gates of heaven.

“Sorry no. You were complicit in Eric Adams posting the brat meme,” the text says.

And on it went...

...including an inevitable riposte:

Adams' office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on all the ruckus.