Bye, Felicia
In American English, the phrase "Bye, Felicia" (actually spelled "Felisha" in the cast listing) is an informal phrase intended as a dismissive send-off, where the recipient is rendered so unimportant their name is reduced to "Felicia."
The phrase originally comes from a scene involving Angela Means' character Felisha in the American comedy film Friday (1995). According to Ice Cube, who starred in the film and co-wrote its script, "'Bye, Felicia' is the phrase to get anyone out of your face". It was also used in the film Straight Outta Compton (2015) by Ice Cube's son portraying the actor during the hotel party scene when the celebration was unceremoniously interrupted by the boyfriend of a female guest named Felicia.[1]
Origins
In 2009, the phrase entered the lexicon of RuPaul's Drag Race, an American reality competition television series. However, People wrote: "[E]ven that wouldn't necessarily account for the phrase extending beyond the cultures that would watch either Friday, Drag Race or both."[1] Furthermore, the magazine said of the phrase: "So when your square friend uses it, take a little bit of pleasure in knowing they're referencing a stoner comedy – or a drag reality show referencing a stoner comedy – even if they have no idea."[1]
In the 2015 movie Straight Outta Compton, Ice Cube (played by his son, O'Shea Jackson Jr.) said, "Bye, Felicia!", when throwing a girl named Felicia out of his hotel room. Naming the girl Felicia was not an intentional reference to Friday, but when Jackson ad-libbed the line as a "coincidental joke", the filmmakers decided to keep it in the film.[2]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Mackie, Drew (April 26, 2015). "Friday Hit Theaters 20 Years Ago – And Gave Us 'Bye, Felicia'". People. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
- ^ "The Inside Story of How the Ultimate 'Bye, Felicia' Got In Straight Outta Compton". Fast Company. Archived from the original on January 30, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2019.
Bibliography
- Augustin, Camille (April 24, 2015). "Hi, Felicia: Catching Up With 'Friday' Actress, Angela Means, 20 Years Later". Vibe.
- Begley, Sarah (April 16, 2015). "Watch Ice Cube Tell Conan Why Everybody's Saying 'Bye Felicia'". Time.
- Harris, Aisha; Hubbard, Daniel (April 24, 2015). "The Eternal Appeal of 'Bye, Felicia,' 20 Years Later". Slate.
- "Ice Cube is So Proud of 'Bye, Felicia'". USA Today. April 16, 2015.
- Williams, Brennan (April 24, 2015). "'Bye Felicia' Actress, Angela Means Kaaya, Talks 20-Year Anniversary of 'Friday'". The Huffington Post.
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