As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Kamala Harris's very online marketing interns are working overtime on her presidential campaign, and continue to draw inspiration from the main pop girls.
Remember when Charli XCX tweeted that Harris "IS brat" and her campaign immediately got a puke-green, sans-serif makeover? That's ancient election history, because now that the politician has named Minnesota Governor Tim Walz — who, much to the internet's dismay, will not be played by Steve Martin on Saturday Night Live — as her running mate, she's got some new merch that certainly feels like it's inspired by Chappell Roan's very popular The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess trucker hat.
For a cool $40 USD, Harris's team is selling "the most iconic political hat in America" (ha, I see what they did there!) and the resemblance doesn't seem casual — from the colour palette of the camouflage print to the neon orange all-caps lettering.
"Is this real," Roan tweeted in response to Harris's latest merch drop. Her disbelief is understandable on a couple different levels: one, the rip-off is so blatant yet somehow so much uglier than the original; and two, the artist turned down an invitation to perform at the White House for Pride Month this year. "We want liberty, justice, and freedom for all," Roan explained. "When you do that, that's when I'll come."
Notably, in response to the original tweet quoted, Twitter (X or whatever) user @westofmain_ made an interesting point, writing, "How gay do u have to be to see hunting colors and think it's a Chappell roan thing." As a small-town Ontario girl, it's a remarkable femininomenon that I, too, have started assuming the average Bass Pro Shops patron is a Roan fan.