66-yr-old comedian was asked if he’d had a ‘brat summer’ and his response is just priceless
The English comedian and author was asked about having a 'brat summer,' but he had absolutely no idea what it meant.
It is 2024, and the internet is well-versed in the term "brat summer," which became a viral sensation thanks to pop artist Charli XCX and her sixth studio album, "Brat." The album’s lime green aesthetics and the playful use of the word "brat" spread rapidly across social media. However, English comedian and author Bob Mortimer remained blissfully unaware of the trending topic or its meaning. During an interview on BBC Radio 6 Music (@bbc6music on TikTok), host Nick Grimshaw posed a question about "brat summer" that left Mortimer visibly confused.
"Did you have a brat summer, Bob?" Grimshaw asked Mortimer in the brief TikTok video. The comedian, visibly puzzled, replied, "A what?" prompting Grimshaw to repeat the question. Mortimer's confusion only deepened: "What on earth does that mean? I am 66. Brat? Like aggressive? I didn't have an aggressive summer at all. It was very peaceful." The younger audience familiar with Charli XCX’s album flooded the TikTok comments, eager to explain the concept of "brat summer" and share their interpretations of the trending term.
@batmerrytiktok joked, "Now, look at this man who has not even managed to button all his shirt buttons and thought to ask him about brat summer." @michaeljordanhunter commented, "I feel there is a little genius in everything he does. This is just a few seconds, and the detail of him just skipping a few buttons on his shirt feeds into the whole thing. Is he just a complete genius or what." @makeupby_laurakilfoyle noted, "I'm 36 and I didn't know what a brat summer was until about three weeks ago." @christyjudge0 remarked, "Bob Mortimer's entire life is the absolute embodiment of 'Brat Summer.'"
For those as puzzled as Mortimer about the term "brat summer," TODAY provided a detailed explanation. The "brat" phenomenon skyrocketed in popularity following Charli XCX's release of her album Brat on June 7, 2024. The album, which debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard charts, quickly dominated the pop culture landscape. Fans were captivated by its strikingly minimalist cover art, featuring the word "brat" in a plain font against a lime green backdrop. Gen Z TikTok users elevated the term's cultural status, creating countless videos under the hashtag #bratsummer, making it a viral trend synonymous with carefree fun and rebellion.
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The hashtag #bratsummer came to embody a generation of "party animals" and "cool-girl style," paired with a bold lime green aesthetic. It drew inspiration from earlier TikTok trends like "rat girl summer" and "feral girl summer," where users celebrated their messy, carefree vibes through playful, unfiltered videos. Charli XCX herself elaborated on the term in a TikTok video, saying, "You're just like that girl who is a little messy and likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes. Who feels herself but maybe also has a breakdown. But kind of like, parties through it, is very honest, very blunt. A little bit volatile. Like, does dumb things. But it's a brat. You're a brat. That's a brat."
@bbc6music This is so wholesome 💚 Listen to Nick's interview with Bob Mortimer on @BBC Sounds ♬ original sound - BBC Radio 6 Music
You can follow BBC Radio 6 Music (@bbc5music) on TikTok for more videos on interviews with artists and music.
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