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 from 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'".[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 โ or a drag reality show referencing a stoner comedy โ even if they have no idea."[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.[2]
References
- Mackie, Drew (April 26, 2015). "Friday Hit Theaters 20 Years Ago โ 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.