Let's Go Brandon!
"Let's go, Brandon" is a political slogan and internet meme used as a euphemism for "Fuck Joe Biden" in reference to Joe Biden during his first year as the President of the United States. Chants of “Fuck Joe Biden”[1] were first heard while Biden's approval ratings declined in September 2021, after the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and concerns of an increase in immigration across the nation's southern border. "Let's go, Brandon"[2] became a non-explicit version weeks later, and the sayings became well known through its use by Republican supporters and leaders.
History[edit]
Origin[edit]
Explicit chants initially broke out during the first and second weeks of the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season coming from the student sections at stadiums in the Southern United States, including games hosted by the Texas A&M Aggies, Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, Virginia Tech Hokies, Alabama State Hornets, Ole Miss Rebels, and Auburn Tigers.[1][3] The phenomena spread north to Notre Dame and Wyoming,[4] before they were heard at professional sports such as a National Football League game hosted by the New York Jets within a month's time.[5] Momentum increased with the chant sung at a the 2021 Ryder Cup, a boxing match, and the New York City "Subway Series" match-up between the Yankees and Mets played on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.[2][6] After the later introduction of "Let's go, Brandon", the vulgar chant was again heard in Major League Baseball on a nationally televised broadcast when the Astros defeated the Red Sox in the fourth game of the American League Championship Series in Boston.[7]
It was also chanted at high-profile concerts such as performances by Aaron Lewis and Megadeth,[8][9] along with at more traditional protests in response to COVID-19 mask and vaccine mandates.[10][11]
Talladega[edit]
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"Let’s, go Brandon” was audible to the television audience as NBC reporter Kelli Stavast interviewed NASCAR driver Brandon Brown after winning Talladega Superspeedway’s Sparks 300 in Alabama. Either mistakenly or as attempt to deflect from the swearing on live television, Stavast misrepresented the chant of "Fuck Joe Biden" with "Let's go, Brandon",[12][13] and the resulting footage soon went viral as a family friendly slogan mocking Biden. The slogan was printed on clothing, a billboard, and a banner flown behind a plane over a pro-Trump rally in Iowa.[14]
Since the Federal Communications Commission prohibits broadcasting profanity during daytime hours, a Deadline Hollywood writer described Stavast as "either hard of hearing, or a very, very quick thinker"[13] for her modification of "Let's go, Brandon".[15] Donald Trump Jr. alluded to the media intentionally censoring criticism when he told The Daily Caller the state of the nation was “so bad that the media can’t run cover for him anymore”.[16] While conservative commentators including Ben Shapiro and Tomi Lahren took the opportunity to spread the phrase via Twitter,[15] Brown humorously sent a Tweet: "To all the other Brandon’s out there, You’re welcome! Let’s go us".[17]
On October 21, Republican congressperson Bill Posey concluded remarks on the house floor with "Let’s go Brandon"[18] as the slogan grew in popularity on the right. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican representative from Georgia, wore a shirt printed with "FJB" on the front, another non-vulgar reference to the meme, during a rally in Connecticut days later.[19]
Social media[edit]
"F Joe Biden" was popular on Twitter throughout September with hundreds of thousands over 100,000 Tweets in a single day.[6] Soon after, an anti-Biden rap song called "Let's Go Brandon" was performed by Make America Great Again supporting rapper Loza Alexander from Las Vegas.[20] The song first went viral on TikTok before rising to number one on the iTunes Top Hip-Hop/Rap Songs list, and number two on the platform's Top Songs list.[21][22][23] Another song of the same name performed by Forgiato Blow received almost 1,000,000 views on YouTube.[24]
A video from a Biden event originally held in July of 2021 edited to include audio of a crowd chanting "Fuck Joe Biden" received 6,000 views on Instagram before discredited by the Associated Press.[25] An image of a fake Canadian government memo, dated October 14, circulated online warning employees against using the phrase “Let’s Go Brandon”. Its authenticity was rejected soon after.[26]
Reception[edit]
While some view "Let's go, Brandon" as simply tongue-in-cheek, the original chant came under fire for its obscenity. Protesters outside of a Connecticut day care were noted for using inappropriate language in front of children.[16] Forbes contributor Peter Suciu was critical of the country's political divide, especially the role of social media like Twitter played in the discourse between users on the extremes of both sides of the political spectrum. Jason Mollica, professorial lecturer in the School of Communication at American University, stated,
Unfortunately in the last four or five years the discourse in politics has bled into the culture of America as a whole... Social media had been the place where politicians and their followers could make their opinions heard... but increasing it has become divisive and hostile.[6]
The Washington Post lamented anti-Biden signs and chants were "far more vulgar and widespread"[18] than previously seen in American politics. Democratic representative Elissa Slotkin said she was disappointed with the "profanity and the sort of really over-the-top, heinous things that people wrote on signs"[27] in the same article. However, Andy Meek—also writing for Forbes—noted the similarly explicit language used against Donald Trump and his presidency.[27]
See also[edit]
- Maggie Out – an anti-Margaret Thatcher chant
- U-S-A! – a patriotic chant heard at events
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Palmer, Ewan (September 6, 2021). "'F**K Joe Biden' Chants Break Out at College Football Games Across the Country". Newsweek. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Fitz-Gibbon, Jorge (October 3, 2021). "NASCAR crowd chants 'F–k Joe Biden' at Talladega, NBC reporter hears something else". New York Post. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ↑ Palmer, Ewan (September 13, 2021). "'F*** Joe Biden' Chants Erupt Across College Football Games for Second Weekend". Newsweek. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
- ↑ Fike, Ellen (September 20, 2021). "University Of Wyoming Football Attendees Chant "F— Joe Biden" During Saturday Game". Cowboy State Daily. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- ↑ Palmer, Ewan (October 4, 2021). "'F*** Joe Biden' Chant Breaks Out at New York Jets NFL Game". Newsweek. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Sucio, Peter (September 28, 2021). "'F Joe Biden' And 'F Donald Trump' Trending – Is Our Divide Getting Worse?". Forbes. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ↑ Cole, Brendan (October 20, 2021). "'F** Joe Biden' Chants Break Out Behind Fox Pundits Covering Astros v Red Sox". Newsweek. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
- ↑ Palmer, Ewan (September 28, 2021). "'Aaron Lewis Urges Crowd to Sing 'F*** Joe Biden' During Show". Newsweek. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ↑ Miller, Matthew (September 20, 2021). "Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine slams COVID-19 restrictions during concert: 'This is called tyranny'". Yahoo News. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ↑ "ANTI-VAXXERS STORM FOOD COURT… Amid Vaccine Mandate". TMZ. September 25, 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ↑ Gentile, Luke (October 4, 2021). "Protesters chant 'f*** Joe Biden and de Blasio' as thousands of teachers lose work due to vaccine mandate". Washington Examiner. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
- ↑ Zurcher, Anthony (October 12, 2021). "How 'Let's go Brandon' became an anti-Biden conservative heckle". BBC. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Haring, Bruce (October 3, 2021). "NBC Reporter Kelli Stavast Salvages Embarrassing NASCAR Interview With Verbal Dexterity". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- ↑ Bremner, Jade. "Why are MAGA supporters chanting 'Let's Go Brandon' to mock Democrats?". The Independent . Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Lahut, Jake (October 13, 2021). "'Let's go, Brandon': The right's new anti-Biden chant comes from a NASCAR broadcast where NBC Sports didn't want to drop an f-bomb". Business Insider. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Feinberg, Andrew. "Pro-Trump protesters chant 'f*** Joe Biden' in front of a group of children". The Independent. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- ↑ Shwedel, Heather (October 22, 2021). "The Story Behind "Let's Go Brandon," the Secretly Vulgar Chant Suddenly Beloved by Republicans". Slate. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Ashley Parker; Carissa Wolf (October 23, 2021). "Biden's critics hurl increasingly vulgar taunts". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- ↑ Altimari, Daniela (October 24, 2021). "Anti-Biden furor on display at 'America First Rally' featuring U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in Plainfield". Hartford Courant. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
- ↑ Romero, Julia (October 22, 2021). "Las Vegas rapper's song inspired by 'Let's go Brandon' meme, skyrockets on iTunes". KLAS-TV. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
- ↑ Stunson, Mike (October 18, 2021). "'Let's Go Brandon' started as a Republican rally cry — now it's topping iTunes charts". Miami Herald. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- ↑ Rogers, Zachary (October 18, 2021). "#1 hip-hop song on iTunes chart, "Let's Go, Brandon" inspired by anti-Biden meme". WKRC-TV. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- ↑ Lynch, John (October 19, 2021). "Let's Go Brandon: What does it mean?". WTRF-TV. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
- ↑ Shea, Sydney (October 23, 2021). "Another 'Let's go, Brandon' song goes viral with nearly 1 million views". Washington Examiner. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
- ↑ Fichero, Angelo (September 22, 2021). "Video clip was manipulated to add anti-Biden chant". Associated Press. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- ↑ Lilley, Brian (October 19, 2021). "Trudeau didn't ban 'Let's Go Brandon' euphemism for telling off Joe Biden". Toronto Sun. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Meek, Andy (October 24, 2021). "Biden's Critics Get Very Different News Coverage, Compared To The Way Reporters Covered Trump's". Forbes. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
Category:Memes Category:Joe Biden
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