Kamala Harris’ KHive might be modelled on Beyoncé’s Beyhive, but the US vice-president’s fiercely loyal online fans can get nasty, according to critics

May 10 , 2021

Kamala Harris made history when she became vice-president, and the KHive wants to make sure you know it. Photo: @kamalaharris/Instagram

Founded in 2017, the KHive shares Kamala Harris’ speeches online, comments on her outfits and even stages virtual cooking meetups to celebrate America’s VP

The KHive has nevertheless been described as ‘vicious’, and can get just as heated as their right-wing counterparts in defence of Harris’ record as a senator

When New York Post reporter Laura Italiano tweeted this week she was resigning because of an inaccurate article she was allegedly asked to write about Vice-president Kamala Harris, angry Harris supporters swarmed her.

“I think I missed your apology to the vice-president,” one person commented on her tweet.

Italiano was experiencing the sting of the so-called “KHive” – Harris’ fiercely loyal online fan group that has been celebrating as well as defending the vice-president ever since she became California’s senator in 2017.

Vice-president-elect Kamala Harris speaks on stage after her and Joe Biden won the presidential election. Since that moment her KHive has grown even more vocal. Photo: Getty Images

“She broke so many barriers as a black, South Asian woman,” KHive member Lecia Michelle from New Orleans told us. “So we must be here to defend her for who she is as a biracial woman.”

Even though the KHive is loosely organised – it has no leader, and it is unclear exactly how many members there are – the online group makes sure its presence is felt.

Some of us do play a part in going back and forth with people. I don’t start stuff, but like, you’re not just going to bully me online either. It’s just what the internet is

Chantay Berry, 34, KHive member

Members are especially active on Twitter, marking their devotion to the vice-president by using the #KHive hashtag or adding yellow hearts and bee emojis to their profile descriptions.

They share videos of the vice-president’s speeches, comment on the different outfits she’s wearing, and post selfies in yellow and purple merchandise with her name on it.

They also organise virtual “cooking Sunday” parties and meet up on Zoom to watch major political events – most recently, they gathered online to watch President Joe Biden’s first joint address to Congress together.

The group is united in its celebration of the vice-president and amplifies the policies she promotes: KHive members speak out in favour of racial and gender equality as well as LGBTQ+ inclusion. They support the right to abortion and have applauded Harris on her carbon-neutral climate plan.

Kamala Harris’ controversial Vogue cover from February 2021, which many of her supporters felt was disrespectful. Photo: Vogue

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