![Three panel image. On the left and right, Kamala Harris photoshopped into images of Lady Gaga with iconic black hair and dressed as a religious figure in the "Alejandro" video. In the middle, an unedited photo of the vice president giving a speech at the White House.](https://queerty-prodweb.s3.amazonaws.com/2024/07/copy-of-copy-of-untitled-73-872x491.png)
A lot has been said about the politics of Vice President Kamala Harris.
As the first female, African-American, and Asian-American VP in our country’s history, the former attorney general of California is inarguably subjected to higher levels of scrutiny than her contemporaries.
Especially in an election year like 2024 where, well, *gestures broadly.*
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Nevertheless, Harris has been endearing herself to younger millennials, Gen-Z, and the LGBTQ+ community as of the late. But it kind of has nothing to do with her policies.
It starts and ends at the intersection of meme culture, a cackling laugh, and a coconut tree.
Let’s do a quick catchup for those who may not be chronically online.
Basically, Vice President Harris gave a speech at the White House on May 10, 2023 at an event for the President’s Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics.
According to Forbes, she was discussing the greater problem of educational equity and how a student’s environment affects their future.
And at one point she said: “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree? You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you.” Of course, the quote was interrupted by her signature (and powerful) giggle.
Context be damned! The quote took on a life of its own and more than a year later, it’s inspired a meme that may win Democrats the election. Or at least give us a few laughs until the world burns down.
May we introduce the “Vice President IJBOL pop-song” meme…
So, basically, the pop-fluent and computer savvy gays of Twitter X are taking Harris’ laugh — commonly referred to as “her IJBOL,” which is internet shorthand for “I just burst out laughing” — and inserting it into tracks where our favorite divas are giggling.
And their creativity knows no bounds.
In the past day alone, Harris has joined forces with the likes of Spice Girls for “Wannabe,” linked up with Mother Monster, and even put a “coconut tree”-spin on Carly Rae Jepsen.
Hmm… maybe we’re the ones spending too much time on the internet?
But regardless, these clever clips are hilarious.
So, what does Harris herself think about the meme-ification? Well understandably, the vice president’s office has yet to weigh in.
Though it could be because, as Rolling Stone pointed out, the memes have a handful of users dubbing themselves “‘coconut-pilled’ in support of a Harris run for the presidency.”
Perhaps it’s high time we have a president that isn’t afraid to IJBOL! But until then, we’ll be devouring these memes (and IJBOL-ing) ourselves.
Check out more of Vice President Harris’ IJBOL contributions to Whitney, Gaga, Mariah, and even Sabrina Carpenter below.
Ronbo
Bless her heart! She found something she likes more than putting pot smokers in prison. She fell in love with the Biden Crime Bill that addressed CRACK with minimum prison sentences (for addicts!). Biden softened his position when his son became an addict.
Gay icon journalist, Glenn Greenwald, posted a youtube video “Is Joe Biden a good and decent man?” People can be both great (Joe was the first VP to acknowledge our equality) and repugnant. Over 50,000 innocent Palestinians experienced death thanks to his evil ways.
Ronbo
Censorship here doesn’t make her popular.
abfab
Glenn Greenwald? What. Tired of Scott Ridder?