Not My Fault (song)
{{Short description|2023 single by Reneé Rapp and Megan Thee Stallion}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Not My Fault
| cover = Reneé Rapp & Megan Thee Stallion - Not My Fault.jpg
| type = single
| artist = Reneé Rapp and Megan Thee Stallion
| album = Mean Girls (Music from the Motion Picture)
| released = December 15, 2023
| recorded =
| length = 2:50
| label = Interscope
| lyricist = * Reneé Rapp
| composer = * Jeff Richmond
- Nell Benjamin
- Billy Walsh
- Ryan Tedder
- Alexander Glantz
- Jasper Harris
| producer = * Ryan Tedder
- Alexander 23
- Jasper Harris
- Jeff Richmond
| chronology = Reneé Rapp
| prev_title = Tummy Hurts
| prev_year = 2023
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Megan Thee Stallion
| type = single
| prev_title = Cobra
| prev_year = 2023
| title = Not My Fault
| year = 2023
| next_title = Hiss
| next_year = 2024
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|C_kPDIXBCWQ|"Not My Fault"}}}}
}}
"Not My Fault" is a song by American singer Reneé Rapp and American rapper Megan Thee Stallion from the 2024 Mean Girls musical film adaptation, in which Rapp portrays Regina George. The song was written by the artists and the Broadway musical's original composer Jeff Richmond and original lyricist Nell Benjamin, alongside Ryan Tedder, Alexander 23, Billy Walsh, and Jasper Harris and was released on December 15, 2023, as the lead single for the film soundtrack. The disco-funk pop rap song became the most commercially successful single off the soundtrack and a moderate chart success, peaking at number 2 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 and charting in the UK and Canada at numbers 61 and 82, respectively.
It is one of the two songs written specially for the film, with the others songs being from the original stage musical. The song plays during the end credits scene and is the only song from the soundtrack that is not used as a musical number.
Background
The song was first announced on December 10, 2023 by Megan Thee Stallion in a clip via Reneé Rapp's Instagram account.{{cite web |title=a special forecast from @theestallion 🩷📢 meet us on @tiktok to watch @reneerapp's in the mix performance now…and see you tomorrow for the biggest announcement yet |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C0saakhp2hB/ |website=Instagram |access-date=18 January 2024 |date=December 10, 2023}} On December 13, Rapp posted the cover art of the single on Twitter, commenting "meg told me to put my ass out so I put my ass out".{{cite web |title=meg told me to put my ass out so I put my ass out |url=https://twitter.com/reneerapp/status/1735017680246296868 |website=X |access-date=18 January 2024 |date=December 13, 2023}}
"Not My Fault" plays during the closing credits of Mean Girls. In an interview with TheWrap, Rapp revealed how the song came about:
I had one day off on tour while I was in L.A., for the Oakland and then Los Angeles show, and honestly, I knew we needed an end credits [song]. And I really was just like, "Damn, I have one day off, we might as well just try. Because if we don't, then I'm not going to be able to think about anything the next month while I'm away, and I'll be stressed because I will have to do it on the road, and I'd like to be in like a studio that I feel good in. So we just went in one day, me and a couple of my friends who I work with a lot, and it was just the first song that happened. It came and it ended up being like the one that we love.{{cite web |last1=Ortiz |first1=Andy |title='Mean Girls' Star Reneé Rapp Breaks Down How 'Not My Fault' With Megan Thee Stallion Came Together in One Day |url=https://www.thewrap.com/mean-girls-2024-not-my-fault-renee-rapp-megan-thee-stallion/ |website=TheWrap |access-date=18 January 2024 |date=January 14, 2024}}
Composition and lyrics
A disco-funk inspired "disco-pop" song{{cite web |last1=Partridge |first1=Ken |title=Reneé Rapp and Megan Thee Stallion Embrace Their Inner Mean Girls On New Song "Not My Fault" |url=https://genius.com/a/renee-rapp-and-megan-thee-stallion-embrace-their-inner-mean-girls-on-new-song-not-my-fault |website=Genius |access-date=18 January 2024 |date=December 15, 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Bell |first1=Sadie |title=Reneé Rapp and Megan Thee Stallion Channel Regina George on 'Not My Fault' Off the 'Mean Girls' Soundtrack: Listen! |url=https://people.com/renee-rapp-megan-thee-stallion-release-not-my-fault-mean-girls-soundtrack-8416821 |website=People |access-date=18 January 2024 |date=December 15, 2023}} and pop rap song{{Cite web |last=says |first=Anne |date=2023-12-15 |title=Renee Rapp, Megan Thee Stallion, "Not My Fault" - Rap Radar |url=https://rapradar.com/2023/12/15/renee-rapp-megan-thee-stallion-not-my-fault/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=rapradar.com |language=en-US}} with themes of self-love and empowerment, "Not My Fault" opens with dialogue sampled from the original 2004 film Mean Girls, in which Cady Heron yells at Janis Ian: "You know what? It's not my fault you're like in love with me or something!"{{cite web |last1=Kickham |first1=Dylan |title=Reneé Rapp's New Mean Girls Song Gives The Gay Regina George Fantasy |url=https://www.elitedaily.com/entertainment/renee-rapp-not-my-fault-lyrics-reference-mean-girls-quote |website=Elite Daily |access-date=18 January 2024 |date=December 15, 2023}}{{cite magazine |last1=Daw |first1=Stephen |title=Megan Thee Stallion & Reneé Rapp Are Cold, Shiny, Hard Plastic on 'Not My Fault': Stream It Now |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/megan-thee-stallion-renee-rapp-not-my-fault-stream-1235557589/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=18 January 2024 |date=December 15, 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Malone Méndez |first1=Chris |title=Megan Thee Stallion And Reneé Rapp Team Up For 'Mean Girls' Song 'Not My Fault' |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/cmalone/2023/12/15/megan-thee-stallion-and-rene-rapp-team-up-for-mean-girls-song-not-my-fault |website=Forbes |access-date=18 January 2024 |date=December 15, 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Skinner |first1=Tom |title=Megan Thee Stallion and Reneé Rapp channel 'Mean Girls' on new single 'Not My Fault' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/megan-thee-stallion-and-renee-rapp-channel-mean-girls-on-new-single-not-my-fault-listen-3559415 |website=NME |access-date=18 January 2024 |date=December 15, 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Gonzalez |first1=Alex |title=Reneé Rapp And Megan Thee Stallion Lay Down The 'Mean Girls' Law On Their Fabulous New Collab, 'Not My Fault' |url=https://uproxx.com/pop/renee-rapp-and-megan-thee-stallion-not-my-fault/ |website=Uproxx |access-date=18 January 2024 |date=December 15, 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Trapp |first1=Malcolm |title=Megan Thee Stallion Dubs Herself The "Black Regina George" On "Not My Fault" |url=https://www.rap-up.com/2023/12/15/megan-thee-stallion-and-renee-rapp-release-not-my-fault/ |website=Rap-Up |access-date=18 January 2024 |date=December 15, 2023}} It is followed by the chorus, in which Reneé Rapp sings about leaving a party with someone else's girlfriend: "It's not my fault / You came with her but she might leave with me / It's not my fault / You've gotta pay for what I get for free". Rapp continues to emphasize her superiority in sexual attractiveness, dismissing gossip about her in the first verse and hinting her sexual attraction to women in the second verse: "Get her number, get her name / Get a good thing while you can / Kiss a blonde (Kiss a blonde), kiss a friend (Okay) / Can a gay girl get an, 'Amen?' (Amen; woo)". In the third verse, Megan Thee Stallion similarly boasts being sexually alluring, describing she is a "mood" and a "stallion but they comin' for me like Trojan" and claiming "Bitch so bad, dudes thought I was A.I., ballin' like A.I.", before calling herself the "Black Regina George".
Music video
An official music video premiered on January 5, 2024. Directed by Mia Barnes, it shows Reneé Rapp and Megan Thee Stallion dressed in all pink,{{cite magazine |last1=Aniftos |first1=Rania |title=Megan Thee Stallion & Reneé Rapp Express Female Rage in 'Not My Fault' Music Video |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/megan-thee-stallion-renee-rapp-not-my-fault-music-video-1235576131/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=18 January 2024 |date=January 5, 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Trapp |first1=Malcolm |title=Megan Thee Stallion and Reneé Rapp Deliver Video For "Not My Fault" |url=https://www.rap-up.com/2024/01/05/megan-thee-stallion-and-renee-rapp-deliver-not-my-fault-video/ |website=Rap-Up |access-date=18 January 2024 |date=January 5, 2024}} dancing together in a pink room,{{cite web |last1=Zhan |first1=Jennifer |title=Megan Thee Stallion Is Thee 'Black Regina George' |url=https://www.vulture.com/2024/01/renee-rapp-megan-thee-stallion-not-my-fault-mean-girls.html |website=Vulture |access-date=18 January 2024 |date=January 5, 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Pierre |first1=Mekishana |title=Reneé Rapp and Megan Thee Stallion Drop 'Not My Fault' Music Video From 'Mean Girls' Soundtrack |url=https://www.etonline.com/renee-rapp-and-megan-thee-stallion-drop-not-my-fault-music-video-from-mean-girls-soundtrack-217333 |website=Entertainment Tonight |access-date=18 January 2024 |date=January 5, 2024}} snatching wigs off of and smashing plastic mannequins, and mirroring each other. Later on, Rapp receives "Regina George" tattoos on her body and wears darker clothes,{{cite web |last1=Alexandria |first1=Lavender |title=Megan Thee Stallion And Renee Rapp Play Dress-Up And Start A Riot In "Not My Fault" Music Video |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/750578-megan-thee-stallion-renee-rapp-music-video-hip-hop-news |website=HotNewHipHop |access-date=18 January 2024 |date=January 5, 2024}} and Megan wears the character's white tank top outfit from the original film, with holes showing off her purple bra.{{cite web |last1=Caraan |first1=Sophie |title=Reneé Rapp and Megan Thee Stallion Unveil "Not My Fault" Visual |url=https://hypebeast.com/2024/1/renee-rapp-megan-thee-stallion-not-my-fault-music-video-stream |website=Hypebeast |access-date=18 January 2024 |date=January 8, 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Pointer |first1=Flisadam |title=Reneé Rapp & Megan Thee Stallion's 'Not My Fault' Video Should've Been The First 'Mean Girls' Teaser |url=https://uproxx.com/pop/renee-rapp-megan-thee-stallion-not-my-fault-video/ |website=Uproxx |access-date=18 January 2024 |date=January 5, 2024}} Rapp also starts a school riot in the second half of the video. The video features scenes from the 2024 Mean Girls film and an appearance of the "burn book".
Live performances
Reneé Rapp and Megan Thee Stallion performed the song for the first time on Saturday Night Live on January 21, 2024. The performance was introduced by Rachel McAdams, who played Regina George in the original Mean Girls film.{{cite web |title=Reneé Rapp: Not My Fault with Megan Thee Stallion (Live) - SNL |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSEuUelaaks |website=YouTube |access-date=21 January 2024 |date=January 21, 2024}}
Charts
{{col-start}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Weekly chart performance for "Not My Fault" ! scope="col"| Chart (2023–2024) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{single chart|Canada|82|artist=Megan Thee Stallion|rowheader=true|access-date=February 6, 2024}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardcanadachrtop40|30|artist=Megan Thee Stallion|rowheader=true|access-date=March 9, 2024}} |
| scope="row"| Ireland (IRMA){{cite web|url=http://irma.ie/index.cfm?page=irish-charts&chart=Singles|title=IRMA – Irish Charts|publisher=Irish Recorded Music Association|access-date=February 5, 2024}}
| 54 |
|---|
| scope="row"| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ){{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2023-12-22|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=December 25, 2023|access-date=January 18, 2024}}
| 8 |
| scope="row"| San Marino (SMRRTV Top 50){{cite web |url=https://www.sanmarinortv.sm/radio/radio-san-marino/top-50-ascoltare |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307051558/https://www.sanmarinortv.sm/radio/radio-san-marino/top-50-ascoltare |archive-date=2024-03-07 |title=Top 50 – Radio San Marino RTV – 07/03/2024|language=it |publisher=San Marino RTV |date=7 March 2024 |access-date=12 July 2024}}
| 10 |
| {{single chart|UK|61|date=20240202|rowheader=true|access-date=February 3, 2024}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardbubbling100|2|artist=Megan Thee Stallion|rowheader=true|access-date=February 5, 2024}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardadultpopsongs|31|artist=Megan Thee Stallion|rowheader=true|access-date=March 20, 2024}} |
| {{single chart|Billboarddanceairplay|23|artist=Megan Thee Stallion|rowheader=true|access-date=March 26, 2024}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardpopsongs|12|artist=Megan Thee Stallion|rowheader=true|access-date=April 21, 2024}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 2024 year-end chart performance for "Not My Fault" ! scope="col"| Chart (2024) ! scope="col"| Position |
| scope="row"| US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/pop-songs/|title=Pop Airplay Songs – Year-End 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 15, 2024}}
| 49 |
|---|
{{col-end}}