The Linda Lindas On 'Racist Sexist Boy' And Going Viral | HuffPost Latest News

The Linda Lindas became a sensation over the weekend after they rocked the internet with their anti-hate anthem, Racist Sexist Boy. The all-girl garage punk band told HuffPost about the roots of the song and what its been like reaching people around the world with it.

Mila, 10; her sister Lucia, 14; their cousin Eloise, 13; and close friend Bela, 16; were heard by millions after the Los Angeles Public Library shared a clip of their blazing performance at the Cypress Park branch to kick off Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Mila, the drummer, introduced the song: A little while before we went into lockdown, a boy in my class came up to me and said that his dad told him to stay away from Chinese people. After I told him that I was Chinese, he backed away from me. Eloise and I wrote this song based on that experience.

She and Eloise wrote the verse in the car right after the interaction last year, she told HuffPost.

At first I was confused, and I didnt know how to respond, Mila said. Then after talking about it with my family and bandmates, I realized how messed up it was. Writing the song made me feel better, and Im glad it makes other people feel better, too.

Eloise, a seventh-grader who plays bass, said she sees a lot of sexism among her peers. Boys call each other woman as an insult or tell one another they throw like girls or got beaten by a girl, she explained.

It really sucks that people can be racist and sexist at our age, and we want to stop them from growing up into racist and sexist adults.

Don't mess with The Linda Lindas.

Watch the full concert: https://t.co/Usv7HJ1lLR pic.twitter.com/pKZ5TKDdiA

L.A. Public Library (@LAPublicLibrary) May 20, 2021","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"L.A. Public Library","author_url":"https://twitter.com/LAPublicLibrary","cache_age":86400,"description":"Don't mess with The Linda Lindas.Watch the full concert: https://t.co/Usv7HJ1lLR pic.twitter.com/pKZ5TKDdiA L.A. Public Library (@LAPublicLibrary) May 20, 2021\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","title":"L.A. Public Library on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/LAPublicLibrary/status/1395485852579495936","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"60ad9882e4b0a2568318fecb","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/linda-lindas-racist-sexist-boy-interview_n_60ad9882e4b0a2568318fecb","entryTagsList":"racism,sexism,punk,anti-asian,the-linda-lindas","sectionSlug":"us-news","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"women,politics","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.us-news","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":4},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"60ad9882e4b0a2568318fecb","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"Racism","slug":"racism","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/racism","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/racism","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/racism"},"relegenceSubjectId":6425097,"department":{"name":"Voices","slug":"voices"},"section":{"title":"Black Voices","slug":"black-voices"},"topic":{"title":"Racism","slug":"racism","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/voices/topic/racism"},{"name":"sexism","slug":"sexism","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/sexism","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/sexism","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/sexism"},"section":{"title":"Women","slug":"women"},"topic":{"title":"Sexism","slug":"sexism","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/topic/sexism"},{"name":"punk","slug":"punk","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/punk","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/punk","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/punk"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/punk"},{"name":"Anti-Asian","slug":"anti-asian","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/anti-asian","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/anti-asian","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/anti-asian"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/anti-asian"},{"name":"The Linda Lindas","slug":"the-linda-lindas","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/the-linda-lindas","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/the-linda-lindas","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/the-linda-lindas"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/the-linda-lindas"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false}">

Don't mess with The Linda Lindas.

Watch the full concert: https://t.co/Usv7HJ1lLR pic.twitter.com/pKZ5TKDdiA
L.A. Public Library (@LAPublicLibrary) May 20, 2021

The girls are thrilled with the buzz over their music though noted that it highlights a disappointing reality. A lot of commenters said the anthem really hit home amid an ongoing surge in anti-Asian discrimination throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

The amount of people that have seen it in just a few days is really shocking, and sometimes I still dont believe it! The positive reaction makes us so happy, but its sad how many people can relate, said Lucia, a guitarist.

The Linda Lindas signed with Epitaph Records not long after the song blew up, though theyd reportedly been in talks with the label for months.

And thats not all: The accolades have poured in from rock legends, including riot grrrl legend Kathleen Hanna of Bikini Kill and Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello .

In 2019, Hanna posted the Linda Lindas cover of Rebel Girl with the caption: When the cover surpasses the original. The girls had opened for Bikini Kill at a reunion show at the Hollywood Palladium.

Bela, who mostly plays guitar but also sings along with all the members of the band, said it was great to see people she admired posting her music and to see the thousands of people that really feel this song.

But its also sad that people have been treated badly, she said.

The group has a self-titled EP, released last year, as well as a 2020 single titled Vote! The EP includes an original song for the Netflix documentary The Claudia Kishi Club, which explores the importance of Asian representation demonstrated by the Japanese American character in the iconic Baby-Sitters Club books.

Your Support Has Never Been More Critical

Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone.

Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you.

Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.

Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all.

Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all.

Support HuffPost

The kid rockers are currently writing new songs and practicing for whatever comes next. Their hundreds of thousands of fans, new and old, are waiting with bated breath.