# The Girls Are Fighting "The Girls Are Fighting" is a catchphrase originating from rapper Azealia Banks' September 2018 Instagram Live reaction to the Nicki Minaj and Cardi B altercation at New York Fashion Week. The phrase became a popular way to joke about public feuds between notable figures, experiencing a viral resurgence in June 2025 when Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez used it to comment on the Trump-Musk fallout. ## Overview "The Girls Are Fighting" is a catchphrase used to humorously commentate on public disputes between notable figures. The phrase comes from a September 2018 Instagram Live video where rapper Azealia Banks, wearing a bunny face filter, dramatically reacted to news of Nicki Minaj and Cardi B fighting at New York Fashion Week[1]. In the clip, Banks exclaims, "Whaaat? What is the tea, the girls are fighting! Nooo… the girls are fighting, why?!" with exaggerated surprise and glee. The catchphrase works as a way to frame any public conflict between two parties as entertaining gossip. While originally referencing an actual fight between two women, the phrase evolved to apply to any high-profile feud, regardless of gender[2]. Users deploy it when celebrities clash on social media, when politicians attack each other publicly, or when any two prominent figures have a falling out. The humor lies in treating serious disputes as trivial drama. The phrase experienced a major resurgence in June 2025 when U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez quoted it in response to the public feud between Donald Trump and Elon Musk[3]. Her usage introduced the meme to a wider political audience and sparked discussion about whether the phrase was problematic or simply harmless comedy. ## How It Spread The catchphrase took root on Tumblr in early 2019. On February 16, 2019, Tumblr user @gluten-free-p*ssy posted a fake Presidential Alert meme reading "THE GIRLS ARE FIGHTINGGGG," which accumulated over 390,000 notes[2]. This post helped establish the phrase as a standalone meme format separate from the original video. The catchphrase saw periodic revivals throughout the early 2020s. In August 2022, X user @Iuvjjkoo used it to comment on a public dispute between singer Charlie Puth and producer Benny Blanco, earning over 17,000 likes[2]. On August 31, 2024, Tumblr user @pankenlewd posted a popular variation that added theatrical flair: "the girls are fightingggggg [readjusts my glasses, squinting] by god… it appears i was mistaken," which gathered over 100,000 notes[2]. The meme achieved mainstream political attention on June 5, 2025, when Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was asked about the public feud between Donald Trump and Elon Musk. She responded, "Oh, man, the girls are fighting, aren't they?"[3]. A clip posted by X user @gtconway3d received over 4.3 million views and 150,000 likes within 24 hours[2]. The moment sparked debate on Bluesky about whether the phrase was sexist, with X user @angel_0f_deathx noting the controversy and earning over 60,000 likes[2]. ## How to Use The catchphrase is typically used as a reaction or commentary when two notable figures are publicly feuding. Users can quote the phrase directly, reference the original Azealia Banks video, or create variations that add additional theatrical commentary. Common contexts include celebrity disputes, politician disagreements, or brand rivalries on social media. The phrase works when applied ironically to conflicts between men, treating serious disagreements as petty gossip. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is The Girls Are Fighting? "The Girls Are Fighting" is a catchphrase from rapper Azealia Banks' September 2018 Instagram Live video where she reacted to Nicki Minaj and Cardi B's altercation at New York Fashion Week[1]. The phrase is used to humorously commentate on public disputes between notable figures. ### Where did The Girls Are Fighting come from? The phrase originated on September 8, 2018, when Azealia Banks went live on Instagram wearing a bunny filter and exclaimed "What is the tea, the girls are fighting!" while reacting to news of the Nicki Minaj and Cardi B fight[1]. ### What does The Girls Are Fighting mean? The phrase is used to express mock surprise or delight when two notable figures are publicly feuding. It treats serious conflicts as entertaining gossip, often applied ironically regardless of the actual genders of those fighting[2]. ### How do you use The Girls Are Fighting? The catchphrase is typically deployed as a reaction when celebrities, politicians, or other public figures are in a public dispute. Users often post it as commentary on social media when noting a high-profile feud[2]. ### Is The Girls Are Fighting still popular? The meme saw a major resurgence in June 2025 when Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez quoted it in response to the Trump-Musk feud, with clips of her comment receiving over 4.3 million views[3]. ## References 1. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOPPNcW0rSg]() 2. [https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/the-girls-are-fighting]() 3. [https://www.yahoo.com/news/girls-fighting-aoc-reacts-trump-001038714.html]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/the-girls-are-fighting Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library