Bye, Felicia

The phrase "Bye, Felicia" (actually spelled "Felisha" in the cast listing) comes from a scene 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'," and, as it was used in the Friday scene, is generally intended as a dismissive send-off.[1]

This article is about the phrase originating from the 1995 film Friday. For the mixtape by Jordin Sparks, see #ByeFelicia.

Ice Cube (pictured in 2012) starred in and co-wrote the script for the 1995 film Friday, in which the phrase originated.

While used colloquially on the West Coast throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the saying eventually gained international popularity and continues to be used, even by people who have never seen the film. In 2009, it entered the lexicon of RuPaul's Drag Race, an American reality competition television series. However, People wrote: "even 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 2014, VH1 began airing a television show called Bye Felicia, and American R&B-pop singer Jordin Sparks released a mixtape titled #ByeFelicia.[1][2] According to Google Trends, the phrase reached its highest usage in mid-2015.[1]

In the movie Straight Outta Compton (2015), 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.[3]

On December 19, 2018, former First Lady, Michelle Obama, used the phrase on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon when describing leaving the White House.[4]

On December 14, 2017, one of ABC TV's Good Morning America hosts, Robin Roberts, used the phrase to conclude a segment about Omarosa Manigault Newman's departure from the Trump administration staff.[5]

See also

References
  1. Mackie, Drew (April 26, 2015). "Friday Hit Theaters 20 Years Ago – And Gave Us 'Bye, Felicia'". People. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  2. Walker, John (November 25, 2014). "Jordin Sparks Has Two Words for Jason DeRulo On New Mixtape: 'Bye Felicia'". MTV. Retrieved July 25, 2015.
  3. "The Inside Story of How the Ultimate 'Bye, Felicia' Got In Straight Outta Compton". Fast Company.
  4. "What Was Michelle Obama Thinking After Trump's Inauguration? 'Bye, Felicia!'". Washington Post. December 19, 2018.
  5. "'GMA' host Robin Roberts on Omarosa's White House exit: 'Bye, Felicia'". USA Today. Retrieved December 15, 2017.

Further reading
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