Get breaking news alerts in the free FOX5NY News app! [59], In mid-2022, the phrase was repurposed as "Dark Brandon", a comically menacing version of Biden used in memes by supporters of his presidency. Disinformation and conspiracy theories on social media are a regular source of public concern, but the Brandon phenomenon is something different - a simple vessel for transmitting invective at a politician. ", "Unless you are living in a cave, you know what it means," he said. What does 'Let's Go Brandon' mean? Everything you need to know about We the people. AirPods are at the lowest price ever on Amazon! So there's, like, demographic target overlap. Let's Go Brandon - Wikipedia The true meaning of the 'Let's Go Brandon' chant | Will Bunch Newsletter NASCAR reviewing 'Let's Go Brandon' sponsorship | CNN Let's Go Brandon is a euphemistic phrase used by critics of US President Joe Biden to mean "Fuck Joe Biden." On social media, the phrase is commonly used as the hashtag #LetsGoBrandon. It is found on billboards, coffee mugs, T-shirts, face masks, Halloween costumes, and even used as a sign-off to political speeches. in the 1880s over rumors hed fathered an illegitimate child. SIMON: The original chant for which Let's Go, Brandon is - has become a euphemism - let me put it that way - is crude, but not violent. Bill Clinton was criticized with such fervor that his most vocal critics were labeled the "Clinton crazies.". In early September 2021, chants of "Fuck Joe Biden" were reported to have broken out in several college football games in the Southern United States. "Before the expansion of social media a few years ago, there wasnt an easily accessible public forum to shout your nastiest and darkest public opinions," said Matthew Delmont, a history professor at Dartmouth College. His mother wrote a book called Brandon Spots his Sign, and they later met Brandon Brown. has become a popular refrain among US conservatives. On October 2, 2021, at a NASCAR race in Alabama, a driver named Brandon Brown won his first Xfinity Series. America's presidents have endured meanness for centuries; Grover Cleveland faced chants of "Ma, Ma Wheres my Pa?" ", Five ways this Supreme Court could change America, Xi Jinping is unveiling a new deputy - why it matters, US lawyer jailed for murdering wife and son, More US ammunition to boost depleted Ukraine stock, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz mentioned it on a conservative podcast, calling it "one of the funniest things I've ever seen". [15], Linguist John McWhorter analyzed the linguistic attributes of the chant in The Atlantic, likening the use of "Brandon" to a hlonipha a substitution of a forbidden word. "Let's go, Brandon" is a code that Republicans use to insult Joe Biden. A simple, three-word exhortation "Let's go, Brandon!" that started spreading like wildfire across social media in October of 2021. False claim that 'Let's go Brandon' chant was classified as hate speech, Image of cargo ships spelling out 'Let's go Brandon' originated as satire, showed the pilot signingoff his greeting over the public address system with the phrase, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Brown unwittingly became entangled in this debacle when he won his first career NASCAR race in October in Alabama. The saying is spreading quickly, especially amongconservatives who oppose Biden. However, "Brandon Falls" is not an official landmark named by the state of Delaware. The plaintiff alleges they made false or misleading statements about the LGBcoin in a pump and dump scheme. "We have a sense of the dignity of the office of president that has consistently been violated to our horror over the course of American history," said Cal Jillson, a politics expert and professor in the political science department at Southern Methodist University. the font used in Joe Biden's 2020 campaign logo. A vulgar chant by racing fans in Alabama has morphed into a conservative meme, 'Trump or bust' - grassroots Republicans are still loyal. UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER #1: Well, it seems the Let's Go, Brandon momentum isn't dying down soon. Initially, Thiessen was not a fan of the chant, but concluded his comments with, "it is a perfectly harmless and humorous way for Americans to express their frustration at a flailing and failing presidency. Brown, or the "real Brandon," drives for a short-staffed, underfunded NASCAR team owned by his father. The phrase has also been used by multiple politicians, including Texas Gov. SIMON: Hampton Stall researches ideology and group cultures. [13] A country rap song of the same name was recorded by Forgiato Blow. [49], After the president fell off his bike in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware in June 2022, a Google Maps user listed the spot as a historical landmark on Google maps named Brandon Falls. 'Dark Brandon': A right-wing phrase became a pro-Biden meme Obscene chants directed at the president have been a recurring theme at conservative gatherings and sporting events in recent months, so the "Brandon" line became a tongue-in-cheek way of evading media censorship and public sensibilities - while still getting the point across to those in the know. "Let's go, Brandon!" Let's Go Brandon? Here's where the viral meme comes from These times, people wakin' up to e'ything. it may have seemed cryptic and weird to many who were listening. How internet . Now Brandon. [12], According to The Independent, on October 19, "The anti-Biden war cry 'Let's Go Brandon' is no longer a conservative media phenomenon, it's infiltrating mainstream popular culture and is now number one and two on iTunes, knocking Adele's new single into third place. His Save America PAC now sells a $45 T-shirt featuring "Lets go Brandon" above an American flag. I think it's sort of past the point where enough people in the mainstream, like, political audience in the United States have heard it that it will be remembered in the future. Its all the rage among Republicans wanting to prove their conservative credentials, a not-so-secret handshake that signals theyre in sync with the partys base. [11][12] Fans were chanting "Fuck Joe Biden",[13] and this became audible to viewers of the broadcast. But yeah. OK, so it's different than that. What does 'Let's Go Brandon'? mean? - KSNF/KODE The phrase Lets Go Brandon originated during a live broadcast at the Sparks 300 NASCAR race on October 2, 2021. A viral video from a Southwest flight from Houston to Albuquerque showed the pilot signingoff his greeting over the public address system with the phrase. The commander-in-chief was ambushed during a feel-good holiday event with children when an Oregon parent participating remotely interjected "Let's go Brandon," a phrase that is code for an . FLORIDA MAN FACES FINES FOR MASSIVE 'LET'S GO BRANDON' SIGN, Veteran GOP ad maker Jim Innocenzi had no qualms about the coded crudity, calling it "hilarious. '"[3][11][16] It is unclear whether Stavast misunderstood the chant or whether she intentionally misquoted it; a reporter with the Associated Press said that the chant was "at first difficult to make out". The reporter suggested they were chanting Lets go, Brandon to cheer the driver. ", "Unless you are living in a cave, you know what it means," he said. It started at an Oct. 2 NASCAR race at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. STALL: I think we're maybe just at the start of attempts for that. [2][14], Conservative commentators Ben Shapiro and Tomi Lahren spread the phrase via Twitter. Good manners is not something they have ever suffered from, and the crowd cheered. Let's go Brandon. Brandon Brown, a 28-year-old driver, had won his first Xfinity Series and was being interviewed by an NBC Sports reporter. Let's go Brandon: Driver caught in culture war - ESPN.com [53] In response, investor James Koutoulas threatened a lawsuit against NASCAR, and called for a boycott until the decision was reversed. [47][48], In early November, the right-wing[49] crypto coin LGBcoin (LGB) began trading,[50] and on December 30, 2021, LGBcoin announced that it would be sponsoring Brandon Brown's Brandonbilt Motorsports for the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. They are insults intended to dishonor and offend the president and the 81 million or so Americans who voted for him. But who knows how long its shelf life will be, NBC News senior Washington correspondent Hallie Jackson also reported on TODAY. The phrase "Let's go Brandon" is referring to a viral video of the NASCAR Racer. After the race, while reporter Kelli Stavast was interieving the winning driver, Brandon Brown, the crowd in the background could be heard loudly chanting Fuck Joe Biden. Stavast acknowledged the chanting and then incorrectly noted it as being a chant of Lets Go Brandon (likely because she couldnt hear the chant clearly and/or wanted to redirect attention back to Brown). It started at an Oct. 2 NASCAR race at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. Gov. STALL: Yeah. NASCAR and NBC have since taken steps to limit "ambient crowd noise" during interviews. Think of it a bit like a secret handshake for American conservatives, but it's notthat secret. Standing up and standing tall. Billboard reported last week that the artistLoza Alexandervaulted into the Hot 100 with the Oct. 30 debut song"Let's Go Brandon." In short, it's an insult directed at Democratic President Joe Biden - and a way for conservatives to thumb their noses at what they see as liberal bias in the mainstream media. Is 'Let's go Brandon!' a form of hate speech? | The Hill And you can put it on a mask, say it out loud or put it on a yard sign and not have your neighbours come knocking to complain or get tossed out of your local cafe for swearing. And while that win his first career victory was huge for him, the team has long struggled for sponsorship and existing partners have not been marketing the driver since the slogan. Greg Abbott of Texas tweeted the phrase. WhenPresident Biden visited a construction site in suburban Chicago a few weeks ago to promote his vaccinate-or-test mandate, protesters deployed both the "Brandon" version and the non-coded version of the chant. This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. "Before the expansion of social media a few years ago, there wasn't an easily accessible public forum to shout your nastiest and darkest public opinions," Mr Delmont said. "Let's Go Brandon" is a political slogan and Internet meme used as a substitute for the phrase "Fuck Joe Biden" in reference to Joe Biden, the 46th and current president of the United States. The line has become conservative code for something far more vulgar: "F--- Joe Biden." When Republican Rep. Bill Posey of Florida ended an Oct. 21 House floor speech with a fist pump and the phrase "Lets go, Brandon!" Senator Chris Murphy, made posts referencing "Dark Brandon" on social media. Instead, the phrase is being used in conservative circles in place of a more vulgar message directed at President Biden. Fact check:False claim that 'Let's go Brandon' chant was classified as hate speech, Fact check:Image of cargo ships spelling out 'Let's go Brandon' originated as satire, It's a direct insult to Biden. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images), RELATED: Florida man faces daily fines for massive 'Let's Go Brandon' sign and pro-Trump sign: 'That's free speech'. Either way, the phrase "Let's go, Brandon!" Lindsay Lowe has been a regular contributor to TODAY.com since 2016, covering pop culture, style, home and other lifestyle topics. As Biden made his speech, someone shouted Lets go, Brandon over and over again. Here's how these three words have quickly become an anti-Biden meme among conservatives. The phrase also became popular on anti-Biden merchandise. UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER #3: Electronic road signs that are posted near construction zones - well, some Northern Virginia residents woke up to a couple of them that didn't have messages about traffic. Republican Rep. Bill Posey of Florida ended an Oct. 21 House floor speech with a fist pump and crypticallylet out the phrase that's disguised to be upbeat. 'Let's Go, Brandon' Zooms From Vulgar Meme to Campaign Ad Last week,Biden's motorcade was driving past a "Let's Go Brandon" banner as the President passed through Plainfield, New Jersey. Go Brandon, but we all know what the sayin' mean. Former President Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on October 09, 2021 in Des Moines, Iowa. 'Let's go, Brandon': First Karen. Then Ken. Now Brandon. How internet Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images. But as far as the use, it's politically very different. Jump to page: Bill Clinton was criticised so frequently, his most vocal critics were labelled the "Clinton crazies." Last week, Bidens motorcade drove past a Lets Go Brandon banner as the president passed through Plainfield, New Jersey. He chose not to stop them. The expression became popular as a way of expressing opposition to Joe Biden without using the explicit phrase it represents. "The most successful memes often consolidate various grievances of a particular community into one picture that speaks a thousand words. While it is often used with the intention of being at least somewhat humorous due to its euphemistic nature, it is nevertheless usually intended to convey the explicit meaning of the phrase it represents. It's not hate speech. A Lets Go Brandon sign appeared at a Boston College vs. Syracuse college football game in early November. It's actually a coded way for Republicans. But its done with a little bit of a class. Where did Lets go Brandon come from? - FOX 5 New York After the broadcast, the phrase Lets Go Brandon and the hashtag #LetsGoBrandon quickly became popular with opponents of Joe Biden, including some Republican members of Congress, who began to use the phrase when criticizing the president. Why is that? 'Let's go, Brandon' secretly insults President Biden. "[32], While President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden were taking phone calls for NORAD's Santa tracker hotline on December 24, 2021, a caller ended his chat by saying, "Merry Christmas and let's go Brandon," to which President Biden smiled and responded, "Let's go Brandon, I agree.