Goodbye 2024, hello 2025! Here are the top 100 pop culture moments of this past year, as ranked by Bwog.

Content warning: Brief mentions of rape, homicide, intimate partner violence, sexual assault and harassment, and bigotry.

It’s been a year to remember, Bwog readers. To commemorate the past 366 (leap year, baby!) days we’ve spent together, we’ve compiled a list of our top 100 favorite pop culture moments of the year. Let us know anything we missed in the comments below!

Bwog’s Official Top 100 Pop Culture Moments of 2024

100. Bridgit Mendler plans for space industrialization: Famous Disney Channel star Bridgit Mendler has a resume so killer that some have labeled her a real life Barbie. The wave of support for her music career, extensive education, and CEO-dom have covered many corners of the internet. Her new company is a satellite data startup aiming “to bring the benefits of space to the masses through innovations in space communications technology.” But is that all there is? Some speculate the star is a time traveler (yes, this is a genuine thing), while others label her and her company goals as Elon Musk 2.0.

99. Dune 2 popcorn bucket looks pretty lewd: It is supposed to be the Arrakian sandworm but it looks like a butthole. Nuff said.

98. Brooke Schofield and Clinton Kane engage in TikTok drama: The dramatic, multi-part TikTok series hashing out podcaster Brooke Schofield and artist Clinton Kane’s relationship took the app by storm in July. Schofield, best known for co-hosting the Cancelled podcast with youtuber Tana Mongeau, took to TikTok to clarify her relationship with Kane, a singer-songwriter widely known on the platform, after he referenced the pair’s past in a video promoting his new song. The video, which read “When you’ve been over the relationship for two years, but she won’t stop yapping,” prompted a 16-part response from Schofield, in which she exposed Kane for lying about his mother passing, faking an Australian accent, and misleading her about his age. Kane later responded with his own 30-part TikTok video series, in which he clarified that he was speaking about a “motherly figure” and that he did spend his “formative years” in Australia. Ultimately, the exchange garnered millions of views and a plethora of responses from onlookers taking their own sides on the debate.

97. RDJ returns to the MCU as Dr. Doom: I. Am. Doom. And also Iron Man. The San Diego Comic-Con threw the Internet into a frenzy when a masked figure emerged from the sea of Dr. Doom clones. His identity? Robert Downey Jr. Everyone started questioning why the famed actor was returning for a second role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Maybe money. Maybe a chance at more acting fun. Or maybe it’s based off Marvel comic plots where Tony Stark becomes Dr. Doom. Whatever it is, we won’t get a definitive answer until the release of Avengers: Doomsday in 2026. 

96. Jujutsu Kaisen ends: Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the hottest modern shounen, sometimes being compared to the Big Three (One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach). The manga has a powerful cast and a great animation team at MAPPA to undertake its fight scenes and daring animations. It’s so popular that Usher’s “Hey Daddy (Daddy’s Home)” has become Satoru Gojo’s theme song. The Super Bowl Halftime Show became a goldmine for posts about Usher’s performance being a Gojo reference. It must have been a sign of Gojo’s comeback. Even Gege Akutami, the author, must be hinting at his return, right? With everything readers on social media have been analyzing, Gojo’s comeback must be real! Right? Right? 

Unfortunately, Jujutsu Kaisen ended on September 29th, 2024. The anime still has a ways to go. A key visual was released for Culling Arc at Jump Festa 2025 on December 21st, but no air date was given for the season. For those that read the manga, we mourn. For those that are anime-onlys, we await your reactions. 

95. “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” dance craze takes the world by storm: The release of the second season of the Japanese anime Mashle: Magic and Muscles came with a song that took the world by storm. “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” by Creepy Nuts and the animated opening for the show were an instant hit. People around the world started to learn the associated dance. It was a widespread fever! The dance has few moves, making it easy to learn and contributing to the song’s popularity. The song is also very catchy! Give it a listen!

94. Sophie Rain makes bank: Sophie Rain, a 20-year-old Christian OnlyFans influencer, made $43 million last year from her OnlyFans account. Before that, Rain worked at a restaurant with a minimum-wage salary. Sophie Rain has made clear that she is a devout Christian and does not wish to engage with sexual acts on camera, although she has received various requests to lose her virginity on camera. “Multiple companies actually offered me seven figures to take my V-card,” Rain said. Rain has responded that she does not wish to do that, but multiple male higher ups of these subscription-based content companies, including CamSoda’s VP Daryn Parker, have made evocative and lewd statements about the “lucrative virgin,” ahead of inviting her to do a show on CamSoda. As one of OnlyFans’ top earners, Sophie Rain’s earnings make a statement for sure. 

93. NY Liberty wins first WNBA championship: Following an exciting season of women’s basketball with record-breaking attendance and viewership, the New York Liberty finally won their first WNBA Championship. Founded in 1997 as one of the league’s original eight franchises, this win was a long time coming. The Liberty has fallen short in their last five finals appearances. After battling out in a five-game series against the Minnesota Lynx led by Napheesa Collier, Brianna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu led the Liberty to victory in an exciting and incredibly stressful game 5 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. To accompany a stunning basketball game, Ellie the Elephant, the Liberty mascot, has achieved star status as one of the New York Times’s top 63 most stylish people (or animals) of 2024. If you didn’t get sucked into the world of women’s basketball last spring with the rise of Caitlin Clark and women’s college basketball, consider this your indictment. The next WNBA season kicks off on May 16, 2025. A perfect new summer hyperfixation!  

92. Tara Yummy influences: Tara Yummy is a mindset. She is also a YouTuber, podcaster and fashionista. Although she has been steadily posting on YouTube for half a decade, this year she took off, recently surpassing two million followers. Whether it’s her glamorous LA influencer lifestyle or her more wholesome content, it’s clear that Tara Yummy is here to stay. 

91. The annoying girl from that one Cut video returns: Five years ago, Nina (aka fish girl) entered our lives. As some might remember, Nina made her debut in a cut video called “7 high schoolers decide who wins $1000.” In this video, she dropped iconic lines including her pick-me “Just vote. Just vote. I know I’m gonna be out, so just vote,” and of course, the classic, “Nina! Nina! Nina!” Quickly becoming a meme across the internet, Nina dropped off social media. Was she silent or silenced? Unclear. But after 5 years, Nina returned to social media on Tiktok as @ogfishgirl723. The difference between her now (age 20) and her five years ago (age 15) is stark, but people still recognized her and were reacting in the comments section. While everyone remembers her as Nina, the plot twist is that her name is actually Jordyn. The internet missed Nina (or Jordyn) and is patiently waiting for what viral meme she will make next. Stay tuned.

90. The New York Times reports on rodent men: Who Is a ‘Rodent Man’? This New York Times article answers a question not all of us were asking. Rodent Men are a genre of Hollywood men who have a sort of “off putting” look to them. Some examples may be Josh O’Connor, Mike Faist, Matty Healy, and Jeremy Allen White. Although NYT claimed that a Rodent Man is the ideal man, many fans of these stars were chagrined at the cruel title! Still, we don’t know how those deemed a Rodent Man reacted; most were silent about the whole ordeal. 

89. Martha Stewart releases her documentary: The Martha Stewart documentary, Martha, was the perfect fall break watch. Following the rise of arguably the OG trad wife herself, the documentary gives us a peek into how a perfectionist mindset led her to becoming the first female self-made billionaire in the United States. She details her time at Barnard, specifically describing herself as the popular, “tall, blonde, pretty girl from New Jersey” on campus that people knew of. She shares that during those years at Barnard, she was “looking for adventure [and] looking for the future.” She also details how she met her Yale Law student husband while at college, eventually leading to their marriage and the next chapter of her life. The documentary sets the record straight on what truly landed her in jail and explores how she broke barriers and became a stockbroker along the way. From dominating Wall Street to mastering homemaking, Martha’s story is a must watch.

88. Role Model is nominated (and loses) “Sexiest Musician Alive”: Role Model, also known as Tucker Pillsbury, is a musician who spent the year releasing his album Kansas Anymore and opening for Gracie Abrams on tour. Notably, he was also put in the running for People Magazine’s yearly “Sexiest Musician Alive” award. This, to Role Model, was the honor of a lifetime, so much so that he started a TikTok campaign to earn votes to win the award. That being said, Tucker was put up against some big names, including Harry Styles, Zach Bryan, and Shaboozey, whom he claimed don’t need the award as it means nothing to them. “They have radio hits, Grammys, clothing brands,” Tucker, however, affirmed he needs this, adding, “I have nothing.” Despite the long fight, Harry Styles was ultimately crowned the winner. Tucker, in his dismay, again turned to TikTok, “I hope you’re happy,” he sarcastically said, “Guess what? His publicist isn’t even going to mention this to him. That boy is in Fiji somewhere. That’s how insignificant this is to him. You had an opportunity to really do something for the culture. To create this beautiful ending to an underdog story, and you didn’t.”

This man is many people’s (our) Roman Empire — truly, this man’s existence has shaken the Earth. To be so serious, we’re convinced the Earth trembled when Tucker was born. (Side note: his name is Tucker… could you think of a sexier name?) To make things worse, this man isn’t only gorgeous, but he has layers. He is a talented artist, has an incredible personality, sense of humor, and smile, and was even born in Cape Elizabeth. God must have used some sort of magic touch while creating this man (thank you, God). For this reason, we believe that, while we also love Harry Styles, Tucker was snubbed. We love and support you, Tucker. Keep your head up, your year is coming.

87. North West commits internet antics: North West, daughter of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, continues to be an internet sensation in 2024 for her vibrant and mischievous personality. She is constantly praised for “humbling” her mother and being chaotic with her unfiltered antics. On an Instagram posted by Kim, she proudly shows off her custom “Skibidi” necklace inspired by the viral Skibidi Toilet meme that her 10-year-old North gifted her for her 43^rd birthday. 

In another viral moment, North put her own twist on mealtime by whipping up her version of mac and cheese, complete with unconventional ingredients. And not only does she torment her mother, but she also does the same with her father. A viral moment resurfaced where Kim reveals how North flushed her father’s iPhone down the toilet and ruined the early recordings of Ye’s latest album, The Life of Pablo. Kanye adds how “no Apple Genius was genius enough” to save the contents of his flushed iPhone and Kim is surprised that he was so calm in his reaction. Perhaps he is just used to North’s mischievous antics by now.

86. Is The Bear a comedy?: Yes, chef! The hit FX-Hulu series The Bear swept the 2024 Emmys, winning a record 11 awards, including Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series for Jeremy Allen White and Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series. The series has collected a total of 21 Emmys, all within the comedy category. However, given The Bear’s tense, sensitive subject matter — including alcoholism, suicide, familial trauma, and anxiety — critics have questioned its designation as a comedy. Variety reported that discontent among competitors prompted calls for the Television Academy to review the Bear in hopes of shifting it to the drama category. Still, given the unlikeliness of such a change and the release of the series’s third season this past July, we should expect the debate to continue next year.

85. Baby goes to Four Seasons Orlando: “I have a question for everybody — who wants to go to the Four Seasons Orlando?” asked one mom in a post on Tiktok in May. “Meeee!” went a diaper-wearing one-year-old baby, who also raised her hand in answer. The video went viral, with users loving how sentient and fully conscious the baby seemed to be. When baby-and-family arrived at Four Seasons, they got luxury treatment, with the baby becoming the face of the Four Seasons! Here she finally is at Four Seasons!

84. Ariana Grande cannibalism rumors flood X: What started out as a joke among fans quickly turned into drama as rumors insinuating that Ariana Grade is a cannibal spread on X. Originally, these claims were in an attempt to deter others from buying tickets to Ariana’s concerts (per her announcement in July that she might do a mini tour, a statement that has since been revoked) so that the Ticketmaster queue wouldn’t be as bad. Despite the good nature of the original tweets, people even began to spread (extreme) false information, like that human remains were found in Grande’s home.

Quickly after the spread of these allegations, Ariana’s brother, Frankie Grande, publicly responded to the rumors via X. “HAHAHAHAHAHA. Wow! This might be the most creative and lowest y’all have ever gone. Reaching new depths daily!” he wrote, then adding that while Ari has been “eating the girls up for years,” she’s vegan. Hopefully, this cleared everything up and nobody still believes this rumor to be true, but we at Bwog politely ask you to stay out of any future Ticketmaster queues anyways. Thank you in advance. 

83. The woke police have a new target: Black solo poly hijabi amputees: If you’ve never heard the term “solo poly” before, you’re not alone. Many people first saw the term in the fall of this year after a Tweet was posted answering the question “What is solo poly?” The answer is essentially a polyamorous person who prioritizes independence and themselves over having a primary partner. However, this was explained in a graphic featuring a Black hijabi with an amputated left leg, and the Tweet subsequently went viral after jokes about “woke competitions.” The concept of a “solo poly hijabi amputee” has since become a symbol of all that is woke and PC.

82. The Substance releases: The Substance is a 2024 horror film that went viral for its unsettling exploration of identity, addiction, and societal expectations. It follows the lives of characters who explore a mysterious synthetic drug called the “Substance,” which promises to enhance its users’ beauty. Among them is an aging woman, Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore), who is fired from her job as an aerobics instructor on a television show. She comes across this black-market substance that replicates DNA and creates a better version of herself. Her double is then born after she injects the serum and every week they must switch places.

The film is perhaps so popular as it explores body horror and represents the beauty industry’s relentless pursuit of perfection and the shame around aging that women are made to feel. The human body is also wildly distorted in this film and the “better version,” played by Margaret Qualley, is made to use a prosthetic chest in the film. Interestingly, this film draws eerie parallels to modern-day marketing tactics and strategies that we have in our beauty industries. 

81. Skai Jackson is pregnant: Former Disney star Skai Jackson has been a huge topic on Twitter recently after paparazzi pictured her running errands in Los Angeles with a baby bump. In a later picture she even seems to be mid-argument with her boyfriend, the father of her unborn child. 

This news quickly became a controversy when Skai’s boyfriend (allegedly named “Yerkky Yerkky”— what???) made a disrespectful remark towards her now deceased Disney co-star, Cameron Boyce. In a live session on Facebook, he told viewers to “stop comparing [him] to a dead” person, in reference to Boyce, and continued to repeat this disrespect. Supporters of Skai have expressed disappointment, urging her to reconsider her relationship, while critics of her boyfriend continue to demand an apology. 

80. Russia fines Google $2.5 decillion, more money than exists in the world: You heard that right. $20,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. That is 1.81818182 x 10^²⁰ times the world’s GDP. Russia has specifically fined Google for restricting Russian accounts on YouTube. According to Russian state news agency Tass, this fine has reached that level because it hasn’t stopped increasing since 2020. This number is “full of symbolism,” according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. So, it’s unlikely Google will pay this fine.

79. Clairo gets shaded: If you have spent any time on social media this year, particularly Tik Tok or X, you’ve almost definitely seen the phrase “Clairo shade.” What is it, you may ask? Clairo shade is exactly what it sounds like—shading the singer-songwriter, Claire Cottrill. The first known use of the term comes from a 2018 tweet from user @RyLou_95, who loosely claimed that ongoing discourse about industry plants and nepo-babies was targeted at the artist, asking, is this “Clairo shade??” With the release of her third studio album, Charm, this year, the phrase has resurfaced and increased exponentially in usage. Its arguably most viral usage came from an August 18 tweet from @poIarseltzer, who tweeted a photo of a birthday cake with “Clairo shade” inscribed in icing across the top, captioned, “whole party lowkey felt like clairo shade.” The corresponding party is now lovingly referred to as “the lesbian Bushwick party where the twink fell through the roof” by the internet, and was dubbed Clairo shade due to the fact that it was held on the singer’s birthday, therefore detracting attention from her. Now, most anything remotely unrelated to Claire can effectively be labeled Clairo shade. In fact, anything other than listening to Charm can and will be considered Clairo shade by the people of the internet.

78. Melania Trump comes out as pro-choice: Melania Trump, who famously doesn’t really care, shared weeks before election night that she is staunchly pro-choice. In a new memoir published in October, Trump wrote, “It is imperative to guarantee that women have autonomy in deciding their preference of having children, based on their own convictions, free from any intervention or pressure from the government.” She stated, “I have carried this belief with me throughout my entire adult life.” This inspires a few questions, such as — why have you not mentioned this until now? Why are you mentioning this now, a few weeks before the election? Naturally, she went viral on TikTok for these remarks. Melania Trump really is such a wild card, who obviously hates being involved in politics. I’m begging TLC to pick up a reality TV show on her life. 

77. Tyler the Creator releases Chromakopia: October was a busy month for many of us, but perhaps none more so than the renowned hip-hop artist Tyler, the Creator. After a year of silence following the release of Call Me If You Get Lost: The Estate Sale, a deluxe version of his previous album, fans were hungry for new music. And Tyler didn’t disappoint.

On October 16, 2024, Tyler teased “St. Chroma,” the opening track from his highly anticipated album Chromakopia, across his social media channels. The following day, he revealed the album’s title, release date, and cover art, setting the stage for an immersive sonic experience. Just days later, on October 21, the album’s lead single, “Noid,” dropped, and fans were immediately hooked. Then, on October 28, Chromakopia was officially released, completing the rollout.

With such a rapid-fire release, there was little time for fans to adjust or set heavy expectations, but it quickly became clear that Tyler was venturing into darker, more introspective territory with this album. As always, he exceeded all expectations. Tracks like “Hey Jane” and “Like Him” offer a raw, vulnerable glimpse into Tyler’s psyche, where he reflects on his journey, his status, and the complexities of both. These moments revealed a more reflective and emotionally exposed side of his artistry, showing fans a deeper, more introspective Tyler.

Of course, Tyler hasn’t forgotten how to craft a banger. “Sticky” became a viral sensation on TikTok, proving that while the album’s emotional depth runs deep, its energy remains undeniably vibrant.

Set in the grayscale world Tyler has meticulously created with Chromakopia, the album is conceptually framed as a diary narrated by his mother, Bonita Smith. Each track unravels Tyler’s perspective on various pivotal moments from his past, painting an intricate picture of his journey. With guest features from Daniel Caesar, GloRilla, and Teezo Touchdown, the album blends seamlessly across genres, creating a soundscape that feels both expansive and intimate. With its creative direction and popularity, Chromakopia has quickly garnered both commercial and critical success, and it will inevitably define the year for many listeners.

76. TikTok rizz party… happens?: The unexpected string of words “TikTok Rizz Party” began circulating the internet in late 2023, following an image posted on Instagram of a flyer with this title on the window of a car. While the image circulated through numerous social media platforms, and users had their fair share of mocking the idea of a “rizz party,” nobody actually knew what a TikTok Rizz Party looked like. That is, until March 2024, when a video of a group of boys at a sweet sixteen party dancing to the song Carnival by Kanye went viral on TikTok. Commenters were quick to call the video cringe and circle back to the TikTok Rizz Party flyer from months ago. So, although the viral video did not mention (or, to be frank, display any) “rizz,” these boys became the face of the TikTok Rizz Party.

If only it ended there. Following the wave of comments and remakes poking fun at the internet-dubbed TikTok Rizz Party, users began crafting background stories for each person in the video. The TikTok Rizz Party “lore” goes deep, carefully dissecting social dynamics between the friend groups. Simple nicknames like “Blue Tie Kid” and “White Shirt Kid,” alongside more unique names like “Turkish Quandale Dingle” and “Tomato Boy” began to gain popularity as more and more users became invested in the TikTok Rizz Party. The lore includes but is not limited to Blue Tie Kid being labeled the group leader, an analysis of Turkish Quandale Dingle challenging Blue Tie Kid in a dance battle, and the theory that Blue Tie Kid and Turkish Quandale Dingle are secretly dating!

75. Madame Web flops: In a time where superhero movies are either blockbusters or busts, Madame Web firmly planted itself in the latter category. This Sony film debuted with a self-aware press tour led by Dakota Johnson, who starred as the titular character. Her candid, humorous approach to promoting the film became a highlight, but it wasn’t enough to save the project from harsh reviews and poor box office returns. Critics and audiences agreed: the convoluted plot, lackluster action sequences, and confusing tone didn’t leave much to rave about.

Joining Johnson were Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, and Celeste O’Connor, who played the apprentices Johnson’s Madame Web aimed to protect. Despite the movie’s flop, Sweeney seemed not to mind, considering the film as a “building block” that allowed her greenlight 2023 Anyone But You, a romantic comedy starring Sweeney alongside Glen Powell, which went on to achieve critical and commercial success. Her upcoming project, Barbarella, has also been greenlit, further solidifying her strategic gamble.

Meanwhile, the question remains whether Sony can recover from Madame Web’s web of bad press or if this flop signals a deeper issue in their Spider-Man-adjacent universe (it’s probably the latter).

74. The Word of the Year is brain rot: Oxford’s Word of the Year is brain rot. Based on this article alone, we can safely say that Bwog Staffers have suffered their fair share of brain rot and don’t really have the right to complain about Oxford’s decision. 

73. Jon Stewart returns to The Daily Show: In February, comedian and political commentator Jon Stewart returned to The Daily Show, which he hosted from 1999 to 2015. After Trevor Noah left the segment in 2022, a new permanent host was not chosen, and guests rotated to host the show intermittently. Jon Stewart fans were thus elated when he chose to return to host the Monday night slot! 

72. Trump’s biopic comes out: Oh Donald and his love for attention. Hollywood has made a movie all about it. Sebastian Stan has been expanding his acting repertoire from his MCU roles to now starring as a young version of Donald J. Trump in The Apprentice, directed by Ali Abbasi and written by Gabriel Sherman. Jeremy Strong plays Roy Cohn, Trump’s mentor and former close friend. The film premiered at Cannes in May of this year. It was in competition for the feature films category. 

The film is controversial — meaning Trump fans are not happy. Trump’s presidential campaign manager, Steven Cheung, said that these “pretend filmmakers” were lying to the public with a false depiction of Trump. While some were unhappy, others, like the audience at Cannes, seemed to have appreciated the film with a 8-minute standing ovation for it. Sorry Trump fans, guess you gotta sit this one out! 

71. The Victoria’s Secret fashion show is back: Everyone was tuning into this year’s Victoria’s Secret fashion show which marked the brand’s long-awaited return to the runway. However, this year was different. Following years of backlash for promoting unattainable beauty standards, the brand featured a diverse cast of models, representing various body types and ethnicities. Models like Ashley Graham, Paloma Elsesser, and Kai Soleil, ranging from U.S. dress size 8 to 16 featured, with celebrities like Gigi Hadid opening the show.

Despite this brand transformation, critics remain sceptical over whether the changes are truly authentic and if they are here to stay. The event even gained criticism over this inclusivity transformation, with some people complaining and comparing it to the 2000s shows, annoyed that the fantasy and glamour of the earlier shows had been lost. Much of the criticism stems from fatphobia with people comparing the plus-sized models to the 2000s models and claiming that the different body types ruin the exclusivity of the runway.

70. Azealia Banks and Matty Healy beef: Azealia Banks and Matty Healy’s X feud has ended in a cease and desist with a demand of $1 million and a public apology. Given that it started over a few comments that are pretty common for Azealia and Matty, the fact that it’s escalated to this, is kinda crazy. The thought that Azealia Banks thinks she’ll get $1 million and an apology out of Matty Healy is crazier. But I guess this is what happens when an insane force meets a thick object.

Her thoughts on the election did give hope for her sanity, even if her reasons for suddenly going against Trump were a little hypocritical. By calling Elon Musk a “thief, liar, and cheater” because of his billionaire status, she is ignoring her own wealth which far exceeds the average person.

Here’s hoping Gabbriette Bechtel, his model fiancée, (congratulations to them both) doesn’t find fault with Matty Healy’s widely discussed, famously yellow, crooked teeth.

69. Shawn Mendes comes out… kind of: Throughout his career, pop artist Shawn Mendes has been subjected to persistent public speculation about his sexuality. These speculations have been based on his appearance and mannerisms since the start of his career on Vine and touring with the MagCon boys in 2013. Fans have even argued that his on-and-off ex-girlfriend, Camila Cabello, was his beard. In fan Q&As and interviews with The Guardian and Rolling Stone, he has always denied being gay but has asserted his support for the LGBTQ+ community. Mendes has also pointed out how these speculations are harmful to gay men and the community, as they perpetuate stereotypes and toxic masculinity. 

During his October 28 concert in Denver, Mendes addressed his sexuality. As an introduction to one of his new songs, “The Mountain,” he said that “the real truth about his life and his sexuality is that” he is just “figuring it out like everyone else” now. He explained that he was scared before because “we live in a society that has a lot to say about that,” and all the speculations growing up “felt like an intrusion” on him. In his song, he sings, “You can say I like girls or boys / Whatever fits your mold.” It seems that finally, after years of the public trying to put him in a box and write his narrative, Shawn Mendes has courageously picked up the pen himself. 

68. Central Cee’s cheating drama hits the internet: Central Cee is a British rap artist best known for hits like “Doja” and “Sprinter.” But while he released many tracks this year, his most viral moment was the release of the “Did it First” music video with Ice Spice. In the video Central Cee raps about the various ways he cheats on his girlfriend all while Ice Spice twerks right next to him. Shortly after, his then-girlfriend Madeline Argy released a series of TikToks exposing him for trying to involve her in a marketing scheme for the video and possibly cheating on her with Ice Spice. Chaos ensued and the internet collectively sided with Madaline. But hey, the music video got 42 million views, so mission accomplished?!

67. Mr. Beast finally faces his own allegations: Mr. Beast, you thought you were safe from it all! Nobody can be completely wholesome in the entertainment industry. While content creator Mr. Beast didn’t do anything as, say, abhorrent as the likes of Cody Ko, he did come under fire for some not so cool things this year. Mr. Beast was mainly criticized for the actions of his friend and former collaborator, Ava Kris Tyson, who was accused of sexually assaulting a Mr. Beast employee and of having inappropriate conversations with minors. However, she left the company and Mr. Beast did state that he was “disgusted and opposed to such unacceptable acts,” stating he was organizing an independent investigation of the culture at the company. So he’s in the clear, right? 

Not necessarily. Mr. Beast also came under fire for having allegedly unsafe working conditions, with participants in his videos expressing fears of speaking out on uncomfortable experiences they had. A lawsuit against Mr. Beast’s company also claimed it “systematically fostered a culture of misogyny and sexism.” Allegations have surfaced of hospitalizations on set, as well as participants being underfed and not receiving medications on time.

66. Twisters 4DX looks so cool: Twisters (2024) is a kind-of sequel to Twister (1996), and it follows Marianne—sorry, I mean Kate—played by Daisy Edgar-Jones as she employs some crazy science alongside Glen Powell and Anthony Ramos (his name is not Philip and he is not a poet, but for some of us that’s all we could think of while watching him) to try to save some towns in Oklahoma from some devastating tornadoes. The movie is honestly incredible, and the best part about it is the soundtrack. “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma” by Luke Combs went triple platinum in my headphones at least, although in my opinion it was pretty under-utilized in the movie. 

Seeing the movie in normal theaters was already a wonderful experience, but some lucky lucky people got to see it in 4DX. What is 4DX you may ask? An experience exclusive to Regal cinemas, in which the seats move around, wind is blown through the theater, and water is sprayed on the lucky viewers that wanted to cough up 32 bucks to get the real Twisters treatment. Oh how I wish I were you, Twisters 4DX viewers. 

65. Gladiator II releases!: Gladiator II came out with a star-studded cast and very nearly joined the group of sequels that original hard-core fans hate. The first Gladiator has become that favourite classic of many and is usually the first thing men think of when it comes to the Roman Empire every day. But the casting and the spectacle is just as inspired as it was the first time around despite the spectacular historical inaccuracies (but who cares? Not Ridley Scott) and most audiences have embraced it with open arms. It probably helps that they’ve had their share of viral moments, such as Paul Mescal and the other male guests on The Graham Norton Show being educated on women’s safety by Saoirse Ronan.

It definitely doesn’t hurt that they had the good sense to keep Connie Nielsen as Lucilla (who hasn’t aged a day!) and make her just as important, if not more so, to the plot this time.

There are valid arguments against the plot, especially as there are hugely noticeable similarities to the original, such as the main character being sold into slavery and becoming a famous gladiator but just with (spoiler alert!) Maximus’s son instead. However, there are enough new plot threads, characters and that ending itself is enough to convince us (and Ridley Scott who’s already preparing a third script) that it deserves its own credit. In fairness, the plot is as twisted and emotional as old Greek (ironically!) tragedies and I can speak for everyone when I say no one expected a happy ending given how much of an homage it was to Russell Crowe’s Maximus at times. Personally, with the success of this sequel, I would not be surprised if Gladiator III is on its way soon.

64: Joker flops: Joker: Folie à Deux (2024) was the sequel to  the Oscar-winning Joker (2019) directed by Todd Phillips. It truly cannot be understated how much of a cultural moment the first film was, especially if you’re a man whose internet presence could be considered questionable. That being said, even I say that I’m starting my “joker arc” anytime I get less than an A on an exam I spent a week studying for. 

Culturally, Joker has a cemented place with a recognizable IP. This combined with the addition of Lady Gaga (!!) and the announcement that the sequel would be a musical should have been enough to at least get close to that billion dollar box office figure the original made five years ago.

But in the end, the film barely broke even, only making about 6 million dollars more than its budget of 200 million. If you know anything about the film industry then you know that such a number indicates a colossal flop. The reviews were awful, many citing dull musical performances that took away from the film’s tension (how you manage to do that with Lady Gaga in your cast is beyond me). Maybe it was difficult for this film to really find its audience. I can’t imagine diehard Joker fans being too eager for a musical, nor do I imagine musical fans being too eager for anything related to Joker. Either way, apparently Quentin Tarantino enjoyed it! So that’s something I guess.

63. Millie Bobby Brown gets married?!: On May 18, Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi — the son of Jon Bon Jovi — got married in Italy. It was a star-studded event where Millie Bobby Brown wore a lot of fabulous dresses. But what took the internet by storm was talk of Millie’s age. Many Stranger Things fans found it hard to believe she was old enough to get married. This begs the question: any twenty-year-old Barnumbians wanna get hitched?

62. Paul Mescal (doesn’t) run away from dates: Earlier in the year Twitter (Sorry Elon, it will never be X) was ablaze with rumours that Paul Mescal, star of Normal People and more recently Gladiator II, would take girls to the park after hooking up with them and run away when they weren’t looking. Mescal has since debunked these rumours as being “categorically untrue,” revealing that while they were funny his mother was upset that they could be real. Recently Mescal has been linked to Barnard’s very own Gracie Abrams following his broken engagement from singer Phoebe Bridgers. It appears Mescal runs away from one pop/indie girlie to another, using Spotify as his very own Raya.

61. Celebrity babies are born: There are about 260 births per minute, but the main celebrity ones whose names we’re all excited to know (for obvious reasons) are listed below. 

Justin and Hailey Bieber’s new baby boy, Jack Blues Bieber, was welcomed into the world on August 22 and the announcement was made the day after on Instagram. My condolences to the Selena fans.

Margot Robbie also gave birth to a healthy baby boy who is currently nameless, similarly to the father. While news reports claim her husband’s name is Tom Ackerly, the fact no one knows him shows that this must be yet more fake news.

Suki Waterhouse and Robert Pattinson recently welcomed an angel some time in March, otherwise known as their baby daughter. The two new parents seem to want to shield their daughter from the rest of the world right now as a name has not been revealed and a public announcement was only done after they were seen pushing a stroller together so clearly, that baby girl, whoever she turns out to be, will have the most protective and loving parents possible.

On September 28, Frances Bean Cobain and Riley Hawk’s son, Ronin Walker Cobain’s birth was announced via Instagram. Imagine growing up as the grandchild of Kurt Cobain, Courtney Love, and Tony Hawk! 

60. A Minecraft Movie looks like dogshit: The release of the Minecraft movie teaser immediately revealed the way the studios intend to ruin yet another adaptation. The idea was doomed from the start, seeing as making it live action meant they had to make an animated game into lifelike models for the characters to interact with. Then there’s the characters themselves. As much as we love Jack Black, he is playing yet another version of himself and it’s already pretty clear that the old familiar jokes are going to be dropped every few seconds in this film. Making Steve an oversaturated Jack Black instead of a blocky dude kinda told us where this was going. The rest of the random real life characters don’t even seem needed, seeing as this is Minecraft.

However, some have become hopeful again with the release of the second trailer. And as we once bullied the studios into the redesign of Sonic, here’s hoping we can bully them into a redesign of the entire movie. Either way, we know the inevitable fan-made remakes of the movie will turn out better than the original one itself. 

59. Lunchly does not look edible: “Lunchly,” an alternative to “Lunchables,” is a brand created by influencers Mr. Beast, KSI, and Logan Paul. The three planned to launch a virtual restaurant concept with this idea. However, the brand faced significant operational and logistical problems through its run. Controversy officially occurred when Rosanna Pansino, a famous baking influencer, found mold in her Lunchly and claimed that the company was attempting to sell outdated food. She furthered her claims by stating that Mr. Beast actually was a poor boss in the work environment and sexualised his workers and children who viewed his YouTube videos. This “drama” all stems from Pansino being kicked off of Mr. Beast’s show Escape The Night, where she claimed the entire show was monetarily rigged for the winner. After Pansino came out with all of this information about Mr. Beast, he denied the claims and KSI and Logan Paul took to their respective podcasts to dispute them as well. Also, KSI made a diss track… and it sucked.

58. Moana 2 sets Thanksgiving box office records: Can I get a chee hoo? Moana 2 splashed into theaters this Thanksgiving and broke the records for highest Thanksgiving opening and highest global animated opening weekend ever! From the loveable Hei Hei and Pua to brave seafaring Moana and Maui, Moana 2 is a fun sequel to the original film, though audiences were disheartened by the missing Lin-Manuel Miranda. Despite this, the 2024 Thanksgiving weekend had a huge box office record of $414 million! We’ll continue being wayfinders on this journey into the new year. 

57. Jack Schlossberg makes many people very happy and very horny: This has clearly been an interesting year politically. One of the best (and hottest) things to come from it has been the rise of Jack Schlossberg, son of Caroline Kennedy and grandson of JFK himself. He has been on the political scene for the past couple of years, but his confirmation as Vogue’s political correspondent cemented his presence in political journalism and on the internet. 

But that isn’t his only, or main, claim to fame. The reason the internet has fallen in love with Jack is not just his political knowledge, but also his wonderful, wonderful face. Let’s just say it is clear that this man is JFK’s grandson. After a year of old, relatively ugly candidates (pre-Kamala of course), America craved a hot man back on the political scene, and Jack answered the call. He is also known for his insanity on social media, posting about random things such as the current prominence of Gangnam Style. We hope to keep seeing Jack looking and acting wonderfully in the new year.  

56. Pookie, Jett, and Baby Paloma blow up: Damn, Pookie, you’re looking real good today. We know them, we love them, it’s Pookie and Jett everybody! They took TikTok by storm with their stylish OOTDs and Jett’s love for his wife and all her outfits. Maybe chivalry isn’t dead, after all! Now they have baby Paloma, another name on the very long list of celebrity babies this year. It’s so nice to see Pookie and Jett become a family. Maybe they can dress up the baby and do her OOTD too! On top of all that, their accents just take the whole production up a notch, and they seem like they’re always going some place exciting.I want the Pookie and Jett life, and I know you do too. 

55. Gay people and gamers love Arcane: Arcane, an animated television show seemingly based off the lore of the game League of Legends, saved League of Legends by sending fans lost as to what to do after the show’s end  (spoiler, it is not the same, do not pick up League because you miss Arcane). Its gorgeous animation style has been an inspiration to many and breathed life into a lot of scenes in ways that would not have been possible in a live-action film. It has also pushed against the use of AI in art and animation and shown the value of having human artists and animators. Though there are a variety of compelling characters, the story is mostly told through the journey of two sisters divided, Vi and Jinx, as they navigate between the oppressed city of Zaun and the rich, steampunk, ultra-privileged Piltover. It gives the original League of Legends lore its own unique spin to create compelling characters that push forward several narratives about politics, policing, class consciousness, and the ethics of STEM (Columbia, please provide ethics classes for STEM majors, please). 

54. Nikocado Avocado loses weight and deceives all: In September 2024, social media personality Nicholas Perry, better known as Nikocado Avocado, revealed a dramatic 250-pound weight loss in a YouTube video titled “Two Steps Ahead.” Known for his obnoxious behavior and long, messy mukbangs, Perry grew his fame by having his online persona revolve around his weight (411 pounds at his heaviest) and excessive consumption of junk food. Perry effectively hid his weight loss from his viewers for two years, posting pre-recorded content and editing it to make it appear recent. In the September 6 video, Perry told his viewers that “People are the most messed-up creatures on the entire planet, and yet I’ve still managed to stay two steps ahead of everyone. The joke’s on you.” Perry, entirely in control while he allowed his audience to continue mocking him for his over-consumption, effectively revealed the obsessive, completely absorbed nature of viewers with their favorite online personalities.

53. Deadpool & Wolverine premieres: “Wooimbouttamakeanameformyselfere.” Who doesn’t like some of that Deadpool joke charm? Ryan Reynolds doesn’t exactly have the cleanest mouth, and now we get to combine that with grumpy ol’ Wolvie? What a steal! And Dogpool? Who’s a good girl! Yes, you are! 

From comic accurate suits to unexpected cameos, people went crazy for Deadpool & Wolverine and made it the highest grossing R-rated film ever! The hype was only increased by the infectiously fun opening dance for *NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye.” Everyone was performing the dance on social media! The Wolverine popcorn bucket was also… something else. You have to see it to believe it. 

52. Andrew Garfield’s Chicken Shop Date makes us all believe in love again: Oh Amelia Dimoldenberg, the woman that you are. The host of the viral interview series Chicken Shop Date went on a “date” with none other than the Andrew Garfield. In this interview, they got chicken (naturally) and had such a strong undeniable chemistry that the internet went crazy. I understand that the internet goes crazy over just about anything, but if you haven’t seen the interview yet, you really should. Actually, even if you have seen it already you should watch it again. Just watch it and tell me you don’t love it. The Bwog article can wait. 

51. A girl is behind Mama: “Mommy, Mama, a girl behind you!” a young boy remarks in this video as he films his mom’s outfit of the day. The mom is wearing a yellow two-piece set and heels, but there seems to be a girl behind her! It ended up being a Snapchat Bitmoji filter. The original video was posted in 2018, but it made a resurgence in this Tiktok edit. Memes were created with this phrase, but it was also expanded on with other versions like “Mama a whole world in front of you!”

50. Willy’s Chocolate Experience scars children for life: It’s really so much better that you watch a video on this rather than read it here—pictures really speak louder than words in this case. TL;DR, an unlicensed event based on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory took place in a warehouse in Glasgow, using AI images and lies to deceive families into attending. The event was so abhorrently bad that police were called. Really, I beg you to just look up pictures of this thing. It can’t even be described with words. 

49. Panera’s charged lemonade gets removed from stores: In May 2024, the lives of the underslept and over-caffeinated changed forever. It was the unthinkable; fast-casual bakery/cafe chain Panera Bread removed the charged lemonades from all of their locations. Actually, it certainly is entirely thinkable, as they were facing numerous lawsuits claiming their highly caffeinated lemonades (395 milligrams in a large cup at the time of the lawsuits, versus the 95 in a standard cup of coffee) were causing health issues, such as heart palpitations and even cardiac arrest. In the case of two individuals with underlying cardiac issues, it led to death. It certainly is for the best that these drinks are no longer sold in stores. The first time I had one, I was so heavily caffeinated that I could feel my heartbeat in my fingertips. Whatever happened to just… drinking a coffee?

48. Romeo + Juliet premieres!: Romeo + Juliet opened on Broadway this October. This in and of itself is not really news. A show opening on Broadway isn’t usually a big deal. However, it is a big deal when the show is led by the two hottest new celebrities, none other than Rachel Zegler and Kit Connor. Most of the internet’s obsession with this show has absolutely nothing to do with the actual play and instead focuses on Kit Connor’s pull-up to kiss Rachel Zegler. We can’t really blame them. 

47. Addison Rae rebrands: From TikTok phenomenon to pop star, Addison Rae made quite the turn around this year. Although her foray into music began in 2021, it didn’t hit the mainstream until she was featured on the remix of Charli XCX’s Von Dutch this March. The remix was — obviously — a hit, and Addison’s verse even went a little bit viral. But the major turning point was the release of her truly summer defining hit Diet Pepsi. The song was accompanied by a glamorous music video that reminded viewers that Addison can do more than just TikTok dances. A few months later she released Aquamarine, a single that got almost as much buzz as Diet Pepsi. Catch her at a Brat tour stop near you!

46. Dancing With The Stars Season 33 stuns: While this classic show has been on for 33 seasons, its newest installment that aired this fall was particularly dramatic and brought a whole new host of fans into the franchise. Younger pros like Ezra Sosa and Rylee Arnold started and influenced all the couples in the show to begin posting on Tiktok religiously. Ezra in particular was locked in the entire show, interviewing different celebrities and bringing new Tiktok dances to DWTS. 

Many of the new fans came to the show because of the Olympic athletes competing: Ilona Maher, a rugby player, and Stephen Nederosik, a gymnast more commonly known as “the pommel horse guy.” These two were an absolute joy to watch with their partners and the show in general had a fun, familiar vibe this season. Not to mention, the rumors of romance between particular celebrities and their pros. Model Brooks Nader and her partner Gleb Savchenko were eliminated relatively quickly, and many thought they were using their apparent “showmance” to garner votes and stay on the show longer. While no one expected them to last longer than the finale, Gleb posted a Tiktok of him, Brooks, and his daughter on December 23, although they still haven’t outright confirmed anything. Another “showmance” was that between Bachelorette Jenn Tran and her partner Sasha Farber. Even after their elimination, dating rumours were flying between the two when it appeared that Jenn was living in Sasha’s apartment, and the two were recently looking very couple-like at Jenn’s birthday party. The show was a complete whirlwind this year and I almost can’t imagine that next year’s cast will be as great as this one’s. 

45. Justin Timberlake’s tour gets ruined: On June 18, former member of *NSYNC and famous pop star of the early 2000s Justin Timberlake was arrested for drunk driving. While being arrested, Timberlake muttered under his breath, “This will ruin the tour,” to which the police officer arresting him responded, “What tour?” Justin replied, “The world tour.” Timberlake was referring to “The Forget Tomorrow World Tour,” his first tour in five years which was supposed to be a comeback. This exchange prompted a flurry of memes and jokes about the officer being too young to recognize Timberlake and the bizarreness of the entire exchange. 

44. The solar eclipse happens in the United States: On April 8, America was brought together, as it so rarely is, by the solar eclipse. This phenomenon happens about every 18 months, but has not been visible in all of America since 2017, and won’t be visible again until 2045!. People hosted solar eclipse watch parties, stores ran out of eclipse glasses, and the memes about the eclipse went wild. People especially loved the reminder of Donald Trump staring directly into the eclipse in August of 2017. At Columbia and Barnard, people banned together to watch on the lawns and Futter Field, classes were let out early, and people bonded over the wonderful phenomena of science!

43. Jeremy Allen White’s Calvin Klein ad sexuality works wonders: Jeremy Allen White stans, rise (this is my second PCM entry about Jeremy, I know). Best known for his leading role in the series The Bear, White starred in Calvin Klein’s Spring 2024 campaign and we were all so thankful. The ad, which was released in January, features White stripping to his white boxer briefs on a New York City rooftop, climbing onto a lofted couch, and basking in the sunlight in all of his chiseled glory. Upon its release, the video went viral on social media, prompting an onslaught of TikToks, think pieces, and general obsession with White’s performance. The online response reportedly tallied up to $74 million worth of impressions. Thank you, Jeremy Allen White, for starting this year on a good note — maybe you should try again in 2025? Please?

42. Eric Adams gets indicted: It was so funny to find out that in all of NYC’s history, Eric Adams became the first mayor to be federally indicted while in office. On September 25, the mayor was indicted on federal charges of bribery, fraud, and soliciting foreign campaign donations. NYC mayor is one of the most historically corrupt government positions, how was he the first to do it?! Well, he apparently became a little too comfortable with bribes offered by the Turkish government. In order to cover his tracks, he got other officials to make false paper trails. Three months later, he is somehow still the mayor. 

How did this story get exposed? It actually can be traced to Sabrina Carpenter. Last October, she filmed the music video for Feathers at the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Brooklyn. Many in the church were appalled by her “provocative video”, which caused Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello to be stripped of his administrative duties for approving it. Gigantiello has been looped into the federal probe against the mayor due to his suspected dealings with a former chief of staff for Adams. Authorities have subpoenaed the church as feds look into Gigantiello’s alleged business transactions with the mayor’s office, and it is alleged that the Feathers controversy may have tipped off the feds to look closer into Gigantiello’s dealings.

41. Sabrina Carpenter and Barry Keoghan break up: It’s been quite an eventful year for Sabrina Carpenter. Riding the momentum of her growing career, she’s amassed a huge following, and with that comes increased public interest in every aspect of her life, including her love life. Enter “Please Please Please,” the iconic hit that was unknowingly teased during her Coachella performance. The song brought a fresh take on the relationships she’s had to navigate while stepping into the spotlight. 

Released alongside a music video featuring her then-boyfriend Barry Keoghan, the track centers on Sabrina pleading with him not to embarrass her as she now lives life in the limelight, and if he broke her heart he would bruise her ego as well. Trusting him, she asks for his understanding and loyalty. But it seems like Barry wasn’t exactly tuned into her concerns. Perhaps too distracted by Sabrina’s stunning looks, he didn’t seem to hear her plea. Not long after, rumors started swirling on anonymous “tea” sites, speculating that the couple had called it quits. Allegedly, due to infidelity on Barry’s part, with claims that he’d cheated on Sabrina with an influencer. Said influencer also spent a day reposting TikTok alluding to the situation, which is just messy.  

Though the details remain unconfirmed, Barry took to Instagram, pleading with both his and Sabrina’s fans to stop sending him threats over the matter, calling the hate “inhumane.” Despite the drama, Sabrina continues to thrive. Though it’s hard not to hear a bit of added bitterness in her latest performances of “Please Please Please.” Perhaps the song’s more spiteful tone is a bit more fitting than she originally intended; nonetheless it is a banger.

In hindsight, it might’ve been less ironic if Barry had just followed Sabrina’s advice to “stay inside.”

40. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives hits Hulu: In 2022, Taylor Frankie Paul went viral for a TikTok live video revealing that she and her husband had been “soft-swinging” with fellow Mormon couples. This scandal set the stage for the 2024 Hulu series on Paul and her group of influencer friends, collectively known as “MomTok.” The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives encompasses everything you need in a reality TV show: petty feuds, shifting alliances, backstabbing, and the ever-present “villain” who stirs the pot.

While Paul tends to run the “MomTok” group, Whitney is skeptical of Paul’s leadership and often declares herself a victim in every situation. But it’s not just petty bickering that keeps the show riveting — it’s the bigger ethical dilemmas the group faces as they push the limits of their Mormon faith and personal beliefs. Should they accept brand deals for sex toys? Is it possible to be a “good” Mormon and drink alcohol? And perhaps most notably, can a Mormon wife attend a strip show in Las Vegas without her husband losing his mind? The show’s most memorable moment came when one of the husbands, Zac Affleck (who for the record, falsely claims to be related to Ben Affleck), forbids his wife from going to a Vegas strip show, igniting a firestorm of drama among the group. In the end, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was as addictive as it was messy — an entire season of watching six blonde white women test the boundaries of their religion, relationships, and social media personas. And while there were certain moments that felt almost too cringy to watch, it was impossible for us (me) to stop.

39. The Eras Tour ends: After an incredible run, Taylor Swift ended the record-breaking Eras Tour in Vancouver. The tour lasted for 631 days (about 1 year and 9 months) for a total of 149 shows across multiple continents. The tour is one of the most successful in history, grossing over 2 billion and amassing over ten million attendees. The tour also had quite a few big pop culture moments this year such as the appearances of several surprise guests for duets, like Sabrina Carpenter, Gracie Abrams, Ed Sheeran, Jack Antonoff, and Florence + the Machine. Even Swift’s boyfriend Travis Kelce had his moment as he took on the role of a backup dancer during “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart.” Paramore, who opened for a few shows, sang “Decode” with Robert Pattison in attendance. Taylor added a whole new section dedicated to her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, which has since earned a Grammy nomination for album of the year. All in all, it was a year (and tour) to remember. Eras, you will always be famous! 

38. Rachel Zegler has her moment: From Broadway to the big screen, Rachel Zegler’s 2024 was nothing short of headline-worthy. Zegler started the year with her People’s Choice Award win for Action Movie Star of the Year for her 2023 film, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. In April, Zegler announced her Broadway debut as Juliet in a modern adaptation of Romeo + Juliet, directed by Sam Gold and co-starring Kit Connor. This pull-up and song-filled show that premiered in October showcased Zegler’s acting chops and had her juggling the stage alongside two movies that premiered this year: Kyle Mooney’s Y2K and Vicky Jenson’s Spellbound.

As anticipation builds for the 2025 live-action Snow White, in which she plays the titular character, her comments about the 1937 Snow White resurfaced (from 2022, mind you). Zegler clarified that she was discussing women’s empowerment and pushed back on the hate, reminding fans of the all-too-known hate against women. Zegler spoke up following the 2024 U.S. presidential election, where she expressed strong opinions about the re-election of President Donald Trump. She later issued a public apology, recognizing that her emotions had contributed to divisive discourse.

Ultimately, Zegler remains firmly in the spotlight, and we are sure to see her in more plays, movies, and — hopefully — musicals to come.

37. Ballerina Farm intrigues us all: In July of 2024, an article in The Times went viral. The article was an interview with social media star and homemaker Hannah Neeleman, known to the world as Ballerina Farm. Neeleman is many things—a mother of eight, a pageant queen, an influencer, and a Juilliard-trained ballerina. Neeleman lives on a farm with her husband Daniel, son of JetBlue founder David Neeleman, and her eight kids. She takes care of the children herself, makes all of the family’s meals from scratch, tends to the livestock on her 328-acre farm, and wins beauty pageants on the side. 

Neeleman, once a professional dancer, has given up her ballerina dreams to become what some people call a “trad wife,” and The Times has certainly painted her husband out to look slightly tyrannical for allegedly forcing Hannah to give up dance and tend to the farm. The article even notes that Hannah’s one space for herself on the farm, her dance studio, has been converted into a schoolroom for her children. Hannah has posted a video disputing this image, but has also faced accusations that she is riding the wave of Daniel’s generational wealth to promote a pronatalist agenda. Her tradwifery has definitely seemed to ruffle some feathers in an age of girlbosses. Whether or not any of these allegations hold any truth, there was a video posted on TikTok of Hannah opening Daniel’s birthday present for her. Throughout the video, she keeps saying she hopes it’s the plane tickets to Greece she’s been asking for, but the gift turns out to be an apron. She still seems excited about it, but ouch.

36. JLo and Ben Affleck’s love dies (again): You’ll need context for this one. In case you didn’t know, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s—or Bennifer (Hollywood’s first ever couple portmanteau name)—entanglement has been going on for longer than you (probably) have been alive. They had an 18 month long relationship starting in 2002 but ultimately called off their engagement in 2004. They rekindled their relationship in 2021, but during those 17 years in between: JLo had twins with her husband Marc Anthony and Ben married a different Jennifer (Garner) and had three children. Bennifer got married in 2022 in Vegas, but in August of this year JLo filed for divorce, which marked the end of her fourth marriage (a modern day Evelyn Hugo?). However, because nothing is ever that simple, Ben spent Thanksgiving with Jennifer Garner and they volunteered together, amid his divorce? But come December 13 Ben reunited with both of his Jennifers for their co-parented kids’ school play? And also Bennifer’s divorce has been put on hold because they can’t agree on how to split things up due to their uneven millions of dollars net-worths? There’s a lesson to be learned here about marriage but we’ll let you decide what it is.

35. NYC Dublin portal crashes and burns in typical NYC fashion: Earlier this year, a “portal” was built in New York City and Dublin that showed both sides a 24/7 live feed of what was occurring in the other city. Initially, this was a cute tourist art installation that explored the connection between the two distant cities. Almost immediately after its opening, humans ruined it. Between flashers and hate crimes, the installation was shut down. However, even with the reduced hours functioning as a hopeful solution, it just wasn’t the cute tourist attraction it had set out to be. The NYC/Dublin Portal closed permanently in early September. The initial creators are hopeful to set up a permanent location in Philadelphia, I guess a comparatively tamer home base than New York City. 

34. Mike Tyson loses to Jake Paul in a very disappointing boxing match: With childlike hope and optimism, when my Instagram page was filled with news about an upcoming Mike Tyson versus Jake Paul boxing match, I thought Mike Tyson would win. On Friday, November 15 and streaming exclusively on Netflix, I would be proven not only wrong but also incredibly disappointed by the outcome. Jake Paul, social media star and hit singer of “It’s Everyday Bro” had defeated Mike Tyson, the almost 60-year-old boxing legend, with no knockout in sight. 

On the following morning, the lamentations preceding the outcome flooded the feeds of Instagram and X. The match was, at most, underwhelming, and some could even call it civil. Simply two men embracing each other under the guise of “the boxing match of the year” but, more likely, just a contract designed to make money for both, $18.1 million to be exact. Despite the emotional rollercoaster ending in nothing more than inevitable disappointment, I will still be tuning in to the Jake Paul versus (the ghost of) Jimmy Carter fight happening soon!

33. Cody Ko is canceled, does not apologize, and drops off the face of the Earth: July was a sad month for us, Cody Ko enjoyers. We can admit Ko gave off frat bro energy from the start, but his videos were hilarious, editing on-point, and commentary always addressing various perspectives in a well-thought-out way. So naturally it came out of left field when Tana Mongeau accused him of statutory rape, which was corroborated and dissected by other celebrities and YouTube commentators. 

And what does Cody Ko do? Does he make a video addressing the situation? Does he apologize to Tana for what he (most likely) did and for the hordes of his fans who attacked her online? Does he call for the online hate against Tana to stop? Donate money to women’s organizations? Really, really try to right the wrong? 

Nope. What Ko does is (1) not directly address anything and (2) play a DJ set to “Sorry” by Justin Bieber. “Is it too late now to say sorry?” Yeah, Cody, at this point it is. What the actual fuck? 

This is even crazier — at the end of December, Ko posted a 21-minute-long running vlog to his running channel, which has the lowest number of subscribers compared to all his others. This is his first video back since the controversy, and he spends the final minute of it hardly even addressing what happened. He does not apologize, just stating that he has been out of the limelight and understands some people might not be a fan anymore. He then states he’s just trying to be a good person for his family right now. Really, Cody? There’s not anything else you’d like to say? Asshole. 

32. Barron Trump starts his first semester at NYU: Guys, Barron Trump is in college now, and it seems he’s extremely popular. By popular, we mean in the sense that a video of him, around age 5, talking in a thick Slovenian accent, went viral recently. Asked about his favorite toy, Barron says, “I like my suitcase.” According to the grapevine, this phrase has been circulating widely across NYU. Media outlets have also been reporting Barron Trump as an avid Discord fan, stating that he has been asking his peers for their Discord usernames. 

31. Dress To Impress is the hottest game of the year: Released in October of 2023, by early 2024 the Roblox game Dress to Impress had skyrocketed in fame, replacing the game Fashion Famous as the most popular game of its kind on the platform. In each round, a theme is given (e.g. “casual” or “Tudor”) and players have 325 seconds to put together an outfit for their avatar that fits the theme. Their outfits are then rated out of 5 stars by other players, and the players with the most stars win. An unofficial rule is that you give everyone but the friend you’re playing with 1 star — maybe 2, if the outfit is really good.

Dress to Impress cashed in on other pop culture phenomena of the year (such as a Brat update in August) and introduced disturbing, horror-game-esque lore surrounding the game’s nail tech, Lana. With these features, as well as the game’s Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve, and Talent, its reach extended far past Roblox’s usual 8-12 year old audience. The game is a popular topic of conversation among TikTokers of all ages, and Bwog writers can testify to having seen DTI parties of sorts at Barnard, with multiple 20+ year old women frantically playing the game designed for children on their dorm room carpets. Additionally, just as DTI cashed in on pop culture, pop culture has cashed in on DTI — rising girl group sensation Katseye is obsessed with recreating the game’s iconic pose 28, and Youtube legends Dan Howell and Phil Lester played it on their channel in August.

30. Mean Girls hits theaters: Mean Girls, the iconic 2004 film, was inspired by the book Queen Bees and Wannabees written in 2002. Then, in 2017, Tina Fey made it into a musical. Now we’re not exactly sure the Mean Girls movie needed a musical to begin with, but it did. Then, in January 2024, the Mean Girls movie musical, the movie based on the musical that was based on the movie that was based on the book, was released. Featuring Renee Rapp, Angourie Rice, and Columbia’s own Avantika Vandanapu, this movie musical was certainly something. The actors were all good (enough) singers, but there were definitely some issues. The outfits felt a little Shein-y, and Chris Briney would not exactly have been our first choice to play Aaron Samuels. Nonetheless, this movie musical defined the start of 2024, with songs like “Stupid With Love” becoming internet sensations — not exactly because they were sung well. 

29. Lana Del Rey gets married: Lana Del Rey shocked fans with the surprise announcement of her marriage to alligator swamp tour guide Jeremy Dufrene on September 26. The couple, who had been dating for over a year, exchanged vows in a low-key ceremony surrounded by close friends and family in Louisiana. Lana first confirmed the news in a now-deleted Instagram comment, calling Jeremy “the one and only” and saying, “We’re very happy.” Three days later, a photo surfaced of Del Rey and Dufrene outside a local restaurant, showing Lana admiring her new ring while puffing on her signature vape. While this seemed like maybe the most random union of 2024, it’s honestly entirely Lana-esque to marry a man who works with alligators. And it’s safe to say that she has said “yes to heaven.”

28. Kate Middleton disappears: Sometimes (very often) the internet makes a mistake. Sometimes this mistake includes forcing a woman who has been undergoing cancer treatment to come out and say that she hasn’t disappeared, she just has cancer. Yeah. This summer, a few internet sleuths realized that Kate Middleton hadn’t been seen out with the royal family for quite some time. Cue the conspiracy theorists (who I must assume are very into Princess Diana’s lore). Some said that she had disappeared, others thought she must’ve gone the way of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry and had renounced the royal family altogether. In actuality, she was diagnosed and undergoing treatment for cancer. She shared this on Instagram, unfortunately likely earlier than she had hoped to go public with her diagnosis due to the media conspiracy theorists. 

27. Nara and Lucky Blue Smith make the internet go crazy: Boba. Gum. Bread. Cereal. Coca Cola. You name it, she can make it — from scratch! Nara Smith, a South African-born German fashion model/trad wife based in the United States, gained TikTok fame for her serene videos preparing everything imaginable from scratch. As her audience grew, users began poking fun at Nara’s content (e.g., water from scratch), and her “eat with me” videos with her husband, Lucky, were a prime target. Several Nara and Lucky parodies went viral, often mimicking the couple’s intense eye contact and hilariously exaggerating their on-camera sexual tension. 

26. Love Island USA Season 6: Extremely popular reality TV/dating show, Love Island, had its moment this summer with Season 6 of Love Island USA. While USA is not typically a fan-favorite (compared to UK), this season, hosted by Ariana Madix of “Vanderpump Rules,” really changed everything and forced us all to subscribe to Peacock. Mostly, this was due to the addicting cast and non-stop drama, as well as extremely viral moments. Rob (the overalls guy who loves Beabadobee) is the worst and also somehow beloved? The Powerpuff Girls (Serena, JaNa, and Leah) stole everybody’s hearts through their girls first mentality. We couldn’t stop quoting Kaylor and her seemingly non-stop sobbing. We really loved to hate Aaron. Kenny, Kordell, and Miguel finally won us over after many, many trials and tribulations. Truly, it was a season to remember! The entire cast, despite no longer being in the villa, still have our full attention as they star in music videos, do collabs, and make TikToks — some of the couples are even still together!

25. Domingo domingoes: SNL is funny again! On an episode featuring Ariana Grande, a sketch aired with the premise being the bridesmaids at a wedding performing a parody of “Espresso.” The titular word was replaced with “Domingo,” a man the bride met on their bachelorette trip who they first thought was gay, but got increasingly flirty with the drunk bride. At the end, Marcello Hernandez as
“Domingo” crashes the wedding and reveals, to the groom’s horror, that he and the bride hooked up. Many clips from the song went viral on TikTok, and in addition to the lyrics, people were amused at Ariana Grande’s attempt to sing off-key with the other bridesmaids. It also became impossible to hang out with one’s friends for very long without someone singing “Hey Matt! Came all this way—” while mimicking Hernandez’s iconic intonation. The sketch’s success prompted a sequel, where the same group (swapping Ariana for Charli XCX) performs a “HOT TO GO!” cover at the bride and groom’s baby shower. 

24. The It Ends with Us press tour sparks controversy on many levels: Oh, Blake Lively. What have you done this time? This year, she starred as the protagonist in the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s most famous novel. ​​It Ends with Us depicts Lively as Lily Bloom, who finds herself in an abusive relationship with Justin Baldoni’s Ryle Kincaid. However, during the press tour, Lively made some questionable decisions that strayed from the sensitive content matter of the film. 

She routinely took opportunities to advertise her new hair care line, promote a set of cocktails (one named after the abusive character in the movie), and discuss the outfits her character wears. Lively also planned to release an It Ends With Us coloring book, but naturally scrapped it after criticism. Her responses related to intimate partner violence were routinely characterized as tone deaf. 

In one red carpet interview, Lively says her husband Ryan Reynolds was very involved in the film, claiming that he wrote an entire scene. Reynolds is not credited in the film, and screenwriter Christy Hall said she was unaware of a rewrite. Overall, Lively tended to use the press tour as an opportunity to further push her and Reynolds’ power couple status. 

The marketing campaign was overall criticized for making the movie sound like a fun, Blake Lively rom-com flower fest, as opposed to granting sensitivity to the serious topics explored in the film. Entertainment newsletter Gossip Reading Club wrote, “For pretty much everyone involved, domestic violence was a piece of content, a selling point to be obscured or a platform to shill personal brands.” Perfectly said. 

In late December, Blake Lively sued Justin Baldoni in an 80-page document, accusing him of sexual harassment and orchestrating a smear campaign. And guys, it doesn’t look good for him. Damning evidence was released in the form of messages between him and his PR team trying to strike Lively as controversial. This whole saga is a complete dumpster fire. We really recommend you watch a video essay on it, even if you don’t give a shit about any of the people involved. 

23. We’re very Mindful, very Demure: This particularly short-in-lifespan meme originated from a video by TikTok user Jools Lebron, who posted about being “demure” and “mindful” in the workplace. Soon after this video was uploaded, it went viral, and the word “demure” went viral along with it. The word, meaning “reserved, modest, and shy” is now being used ironically to make fun of modern society’s emphasis on being reserved and nonchalant. (Honestly, demure is not a very good word — a bit sexist since it’s usually used to describe women — so it’s fine that the word’s connotation is now a joke that undermines its own meaning.) Clearly the joke didn’t last very long, because now people roll their eyes whenever anyone brings up being “very demure, very mindful”; just another vocabulary word added to the brain rot lexicon. At least its virality gave Jools Lebron enough money to fully fund her transition. 

22. Travis Scott’s FE!N is loved by preteen boys everywhere: “FE!N,” a song from Travis Scott’s album Utopia, quickly became a fan favourite with currently over 1.1 million streams and debuted at No. 5 on the Hot 100. The song features contributions from Playboi Carti and Sheck Wes and despite being released in 2023, has dominated social media trends this year. Interestingly though, having asked the biggest Travis Scott fan I know, she claims how it only became popular due to Playboi Carti’s influence and that she is not a fan of the song whatsoever. This is due to Carti’s fans claiming this song as his own and sparking drama amongst the two fan bases. 

There has also been much discussion on social media around what the title and word “fein” means with the emergence of the “Fein Fein Fein meme”, based on this trend, which allegedly refers to the addict and rapper lifestyle. The craze kicked off in July 2024, after a group of guys posted a video of themselves Travis’ concert and quickly became a TikTok trend.

There’s also a gay version, for anybody who wants to check it out. 

21. The Costco Family brings the BOOM!: The Costco Family is an Italian-American family from Florida who enjoy shopping at Costco and making videos about the best products. A.J. (the father) and his son Big Justice bring the BOOM, as they rate what’s BOOM or DOOM at Costco. Also featured are mom Erika and sister Ashley. Many of their videos have gone viral, like this video at UVM Hillel. What’s A.J. doing in Burlington? The Costco Family has also recently “adopted” the Rizzler, another kid who is known for his “rizz face.” The family collaborates with him in videos often, leading viewers to wonder if he actually goes to school. They have released songs and have even been featured in an SNL skit. Oh, and A.J. is also a professional wrestler. 

20. Inside Out 2 tears at all our heartstrings: After 9 years of anticipation and speculation since the first groundbreaking film, Inside Out 2 finally released with a batch of new emotions, secondhand embarrassment, and healing of our inner child. People took to social media humorously coming to terms with their own Anxiety driving their heads crazy. Others applauded whenever Nostalgia was mentioned. In fact, the film was so popular and loved that it broke the world record for highest grossing animated film ever with a national box office of $1.699 billion! The previous record holder was Frozen 2 (or The Lion King (2019) if live-action CGI is included). The torch has officially been passed!

19. The Super Bowl LVIII is for everyone: This year’s Super Bowl was definitely one for the books. The Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers met in Las Vegas, Nevada at Allegiant Stadium for a tight game, ultimately ending in an overtime 25-22 Chiefs Victory (their third Super Bowl win in five years). Of course though, we’re here to focus on the pop culture of it all. For one, Usher performed for the halftime show, bringing out Alicia Keys and getting a little handsy. Will.i.am, Lil Jon, Ludacris, and H.E.R. also joined the stage for the performance, while Jon Batiste sang the National Anthem before the game. Michael Cera appeared in the later Emmy-nominated “Cera-Ve” commercial. Beyoncé surprise dropped two singles from her album, Cowboy Carter, “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages” after being featured in a Verizon commercial. Then-newer couple Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift celebrated the Chiefs win with an on-field kiss — making it a definite night to remember.

18. Challengers makes us fall in love with men (and Zendaya) all over again: 2024 was truly the year of director Luca Guadagnino (known for Call Me By Your Name and Bones and All), but his movie Challengers really took the internet by storm. Starring Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor, the romantic-drama follows a love triangle between three tennis players over the course of twenty years. While Zendaya was clearly the star, the internet truly loved the romantic tension between Faist and O’Connor, especially during the notorious “churro scene,” where Faist bites a churro out of O’Connor’s hand. Our TikToks were filled with fan-made edits for weeks. The movie also led to a resurgence in the popularity of tennis, as well as the trend of “rodent men” due to both men having seemingly mouse-like features. While Oscar nominations have not yet been announced, the soundtrack specifically is up for consideration and likely to be nominated for Best Original Score. 

17. Moo Deng and Pesto are adorable: 2024 was the year of cute baby animals capturing the hearts and attention of the internet. Two of the biggest stars were Moo Deng, a pygmy hippopotamus at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand, and Pesto, a king penguin chick at Sea Life in Melbourne. 

Moo Deng (which is Thai for “bouncy pork”) first gained affections when photos of her biting zookeepers and playing in water went viral. Moo Deng’s mischief and sassiness even got her a coveted appearance on SNL when Bowen Yang played her on a Weekend Update segment. Moo Deng also moonlit as a psychic in November. She was presented with two dishes of carved fruit, one with Harris’ name on it, and the other with Trump’s. She was foresightful enough to accurately predict Trump’s victory in the election by eating off of his plate. Lucky for Moo Deng fans, the zoo plans to set up a livestream so fans can follow her and her six siblings.

Pesto the penguin, though less sassy than Moo Deng, also became a star seemingly overnight. Pesto hatched on January 30 and was raised by a pair of foster parents, Tango and Hudson, who had been having trouble hatching their own eggs. Pesto’s gender reveal was broadcast online in September and, at that time, he was 46 lbs and the largest king penguin chick that had ever lived at the aquarium. People fell in love with his awkward stance, his teenagerish nonchalance, and, most of all, his massive size, which collected him many nicknames such as “linebacker” and “absolute unit.” Although he is still only a chick, he is already heavier than both of his foster parents combined. He has met both Olivia Rodrigo and Katy Perry, the latter of which wanted to kiss him but was not allowed, due to biosecurity measures. My theory is that they didn’t let Katy Perry kiss him because he is already dating another penguin (he’s such a catch) and he is a very loyal boyfriend. Zookeepers expect him to lose weight after molting and settling at a normal weight for an adult king penguin (about 33 lbs).

16. How Does RFK Jr. Even Exist?: Robert Kennedy Jr. cannot be explained in any coherent way. This year, he confessed many things for zero apparent reason. Firstly, he claimed that a parasite ate part of his brain, and then died. He said notably on X, “I offer to eat 5 more brain worms and still beat President Trump and President Biden in a debate. I feel confident in the result even with a six-worm handicap.” 

This year, RFK Jr. also confessed to dumping a dead bear cub in Central Park with a bicycle nearby in an attempt to stage a bike accident. After coming across the dead bear on the side of the highway after being hit by a car, he offered to take it off the driver’s hands to skin and eat it. After not having enough time to do so, he decided to just leave it behind. A photo was also released of RFK Jr. with his hand inside the dead bear’s mouth. He also said he has been collecting roadkill his entire life. “I have a freezer full of it,” he remarked. 

RFK Jr., who is now Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, also has a long history of opposing vaccines. Lovely trajectory our country is going down! 

15. Elon Musk goes further off the rails: Elon Musk has become progressively more unhinged, it seems. He has apparently become Donald Trump’s number one supporter and best friend, celebrating Thanksgiving festivities with the Trumps (instead of with his twelve kids) and spending objectively way too much time at Mar-a-Lago. He is also solely responsible for the menace to society we call the Cybertruck. It seriously looks like a five-year-old drew it, and now they’ve started popping up in different colors, each one more obnoxiously horrible than the last. To get even weirder, he posted a video titled “Dark MAGA Assemble” (???), complete with anime videos and over-edited clips of Trump. 

14. Gypsy Rose Blanchard gets released from prison, has a string of boyfriends: In December 2023, after serving eight years for the infamous slaying of her mother, Gypsy Rose Blanchard was released from prison. Since Blanchard went directly from her mother’s abuse to her prison sentence, this year has been her first taste of true freedom. She kicked off 2024 with a media tour and a hefty social media presence. In January, she had a message for the haters: “Can’t bring me down, I’m on a high right now. I’m living my best life and y’all can’t take that from me.” While many internet users were happy to see Blanchard thriving, some questioned her exuberance, given the gravity of her crime. Apparently law enforcement shared these sentiments: In April, per the advice of her parole officer, Blanchard deleted her social media accounts. 

This year was also a rollercoaster for Blanchard’s love life. In March, she announced her divorce from husband Ryan Scott Anderson, whom she married two years prior while in prison. According to Blanchard, his “D is fire.” Was, I guess. Now, Gypsy is expecting her first child with her current boyfriend Ken Urker. Congrats? 

13. Jojo Siwa starts her Bad Girl Era: Jojo Siwa has been a fixture of 2024. From “Karma” to Eurovision Poland, to “dream guest on my podcast,” she has not left our minds for a single second. She might have been right when she said that no one has made this drastic of a change in our generation, because I swear it was only a year or two ago that she was singing “Boomerang” while wearing a bow twice the size of her head. How do you go from that to posing for a photoshoot wearing a bedazzled jockstrap? Not to mention the Dance Moms drama, with Abby Lee Miller’s overwhelmingly positive reaction to the “Karma” music video heard-round-the-world and her notoriously salty attitude toward the rest of the girls after the show ended. As if things couldn’t get any crazier, after being told that the music in her song “Yesterday’s Tomorrow’s Today” sounded vaguely Polish, she traveled to Poland to make content and inquired about appearing as the Polish representative on Eurovision. She has also chosen the names of her unborn, not yet conceived future children: Freddie, Eddie, and Teddie. Freddie will be the girl and Eddie and Teddie will be twin boys, obviously.

12. Haliey Welch hawk tuahs up a storm: In mid-June, a street-interview video went viral of vending machine spring factory worker Haliey Welch being asked what “one move in bed that makes a man go crazy” is, to which she responded, “You’ve gotta give them that hawk tuah, spit on that thang.” The original video has received millions of views across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, and has spawned everything from audio remixes to political merch. 

Shortly after the video went viral, Welch got an agent, started a company, and made official Hawk Tuah merch. It was just a short jump from there to the creation of the Talk Tuah podcast under the Betr media company (which was co-founded by Jake Paul). Talk Tuah has featured guests from across the internet spectrum, from Jojo Siwa to Mark Cuban. Though Haliey stayed neutral regarding the recent election, never coming out in support of either presidential candidate, her slogan was very popular among conservative groups, with merch being made of Donald Trump’s face above the line “Spit On That Thang.” If you thought that oral sex Trump merch was as far as this would go, you would be sorely mistaken. 

In December, Haliey Welch released a cryptocurrency meme coin called Hawk Tuah coin, which skyrocketed to a $500 million valuation before dropping quickly to $25 million, causing people to lose anywhere from a couple of dollars to hundreds of thousands. At least one investor filed a complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and many have accused Welch of a pump-and-dump rug-pull scheme and insider trading, which Welch and her team have denied. The rollercoaster from street-interview to a collapsed meme cryptocurrency was unexpected, and I have suspicions that it won’t get more normal from here.

11. Trump doesn’t get assassinated: On July 13, Trump got shot in the ear at a rally on a farm. In Pennsylvania. On a farm in Butler, Pennsylvania. Assassination attempts are, of course, a serious matter, but the internet had a field day, and you should too. Notably — in clairvoyant fashion — Florida singer Ethel Cain shared on her Instagram story, back in May, a post from Democracy Now! about Biden sending $1 billion in new arms to Israel, which she captioned with “we need to bring back assassinations.”

10. Drake and Kendrick beef: After over a decade of subtly dissing each other, 2024 saw the culmination of long-running tension between rappers Drake and Kendrick Lamar. In his 2023 collaboration with Drake on their song “First Person Shooter,” J. Cole referred to himself, Drake, and Kendrick as “the big three,” which Kendrick did not approve of. As mentioned, he had been dissing Drake for years and was far from his biggest fan. So, Kendrick dissed both of them in his song “Like That.” 

This is where things started to get messy. Drake responded with several disses, one of them using an AI-generated Tupac verse (which he did not have permission to use, landing him a cease-and-desist order). From there, Kendrick dropped “euphoria” and “6:16 in LA,” two scathing diatribes viciously calling Drake out. Drake dropped “Family Matters,” accusing Kendrick of being unfaithful to his wife Whitney Alford. In a matter of minutes, Kendrick returned fire with songs “Meet the Grahams” and, 24 hours later, “Not Like Us.” In these two songs, Lamar accuses Drake of everything from alcoholism to having a second child who he refuses to acknowledge. “Not Like Us” was, without question, the greatest success out of all the disses released, landing a #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 2024. Slowly, the public began to lose interest in the rappers’ beef and moved their attention elsewhere. It is, however, still raging on; in November, Drake filed his second motion against Universal Music Group, claiming he was defamed in Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”

9. Ozempic has a renaissance: The Ozempic craze has surrounded 2024 conversations around weight. While it has been around for a long time, only recently has it gained mainstream popularity and use — seen in the surge in Ozempic stock prices. This trend, paired with society’s long standing obsession with discussing women’s bodies and women’s bodies being at the forefront of the media, it would make sense that celebrities would resort to using Ozempic. Lana Del Rey for example has faced relentless criticism over her body weight and has recently been the subject of Ozempic rumours after fans noticed her weight loss. Is her new figure simply the result of exercise and lifestyle changes, or has she turned to Ozempic to achieve her new figure?

Similarly, Adele, who has lost 100 pounds in two years, has also faced Ozempic allegations. She exclaims how her anxiety after her divorce fuelled this huge weight loss and how her body has been objectified her entire career. It would make sense if she did resort to using Ozempic. However, it is clear that it is taboo to talk about Ozempic in weight loss journeys, where significant weight loss done in a healthy way takes a lot of time, so pressure to take shortcuts persist. Even Lizzo, a notorious body positive celebrity, is rumoured to be taking Ozempic after significant weight loss. She claims her weight loss is credited to five months of weight training and calorie deficits, but fans are convinced otherwise. If celebrities were taking Ozempic to achieve weight loss and were transparent about it, then it could help counter the rising trend of young girls using it. 

Some critics see Ozempic as a vehicle for eating disorders and even people considered thin are taking Ozempic for weight loss. Kelly Clarkson addressed similar allegations in a recent interview, denying the use of Ozempic but admitting to using a similar prescription, due to health concerns reflected in her bloodwork. In an interview with Whoopi Goldberg, she discusses her struggles with body dysmorphia that led her to take Ozempic. This has also had the opposite effect, with some individuals perceiving themselves as overweight and turning to the drug in pursuit of extreme thinness.

8. There is so, so much Wicked drama. Finally, after years of waiting, Wicked finally hit theaters in November, but of course, any movie this big comes with an array of pop culture moments and drama. First, there’s the global press-tour. Of course, last year we learned of Ethan Slater and Ariana Grande’s relationship that budded during production. They’ve since kept it pretty lowkey, spacing out in photos taken during the press tour and dodging interview questions about each other — likely due to the unconfirmed allegations of “home-wrecking” on both sides. 

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were generally just very emotional, constantly crying (as theatre kids do) while talking fondly about their on-set experiences. In one world-altering interview, Out Magazine Journalist Tracy E. Gilchrist told Cynthia Erivo that she had seen many queer fans “holding space” for the lyrics to “Defying Gravity.” Erivo responded that she “didn’t know that was happening” and that that was “exactly what [she] wanted.” Of course, this did numbers on the internet as nobody knows what holding space means, and couldn’t believe the emotion Erivo responded with. The icing on the cake was Ariana Grande who, in a gesture of support, was holding Cynthia’s pointer finger. Later, the actresses dissected the interview, claiming that the two had no idea what was happening. Don’t worry though, Gilchirst is not embarrassed, and even got her own Amazon Alexa commercial out of the situation. 

The movie itself, grossing over $424 million in the US alone, has generated quite the buzz itself. Both Erivo and Grande (and the rest of the cast) gave fantastic performances (to little surprise), but there are a few moments that, as far as pop culture goes, really stood out. For one, during “Dancing Through Life,” when Nessarose says “Me and Boq.” This line may not seem noteworthy, but due to the delivery of “Boq” (is there really any good way to say it?) people have found it extremely funny. Boq (played by Ethan Slater) in general had his fair share of moments, leading to a lookalike contest held in Washington Square Park hosted by Molly, the creator of “BoqTok”. The winner even sounds like him.

In case you didn’t see the Target commercial, there’s also so much merch, but one roll out of Elphaba and Glinda dolls really stood out. Due to a misprint, a link (wicked.com) on the back of the dolls’ boxes led to a porn site instead of the intended Wicked movie website, resulting in a massive recall as these toys are meant for children. Now, the boxes with the misprint are being sold on eBay as “collector’s” items. 

7. Luigi Mangione sparks discourse: After United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed in Midtown, Manhattan, the NYPD set out to find the shooter. After evading the police for five days, the suspect was found in a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania and immediately taken into custody. Luigi Mangione, a 26-year-old UPenn graduate, was found with an anti-healthcare manifesto as well as the fake ID used to check into a hostel before the shooting. Upon his identification, he gained almost 500k followers on X. The public was quickly divided, but not about what you might think. Sure, the ethics of the crime were discussed, but most discourse surrounded the fact that Luigi is kind of super hot. Even his mugshot ate (look at the replies). Between the photo of him shirtless in his X header and what can be gathered of his personality from tweets and a recovered Goodreads account, people are obsessed with him, even offering to pay his legal fees and send money to his account so he can buy an iPod in prison. There’s even a “Luigi Crave” account. Regardless of the situation surrounding his fame, the internet is still having a field day, making Luigi undoubtedly one of the biggest pop culture moments this year. 

6. Sabrina Carpenter truly breaks out!: We had a lot of breakout stars this year, but Sabrina Carpenter finally got her moment in the spotlight after around ten years in the music industry. This year gave us performances at SNL and the VMAs, as well as an appearance on Chicken Shop Date with Amelia Dimoldenberg, and even a Netflix Holiday Special that featured Chappell Roan, Tyla, and Shania Twain. While the August release Short ‘n Sweet was actually her sixth studio album, it has catapulted her into main pop girl status and even a Best New Artist Grammy Nomination. It all started with the single “Espresso,” undoubtedly one of the top contenders for 2024’s song of the summer. The song is unbelievably catchy, and perfectly sets Sabrina up for her next releases, “Please, Please, Please” and “Taste.” All three singles released alongside iconic music videos, like in “Please, Please, Please,” where Sabrina stars alongside ex-boyfriend Barry Keoghan and heavily insinuates that the song is about him. In “Taste,” Sabrina makes out with Jenna Ortega who acts as her ex’s new girlfriend. Later, the internet did some digging and declared the song is about a fling with Shawn Mendes. Overall, Short ‘n Sweet debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, while all three singles topped Global charts. 

Of course, any album this huge is bound to come with a tour, and Sabrina delivered! The Short ‘n Sweet tour is a theatrical performance creating enough viral pop-culture moments in itself, most notably, her nightly “Have you ever tried this one?” sex positions during lyrics from her very-horny song, “Juno.” Additionally, during a bit where Sabrina “arrests” someone in the audience for being “too hot” with fuzzy pink handcuffs, she revealed some special celebrity guests in attendance — Rachel Sennot, Jack Antonoff, Margaret Qualley, and even Domingo (Marcello Hernandez’s character from iconic SNL skit). Whatever it was, Sabrina consistently lived in our minds rent free this year. That’s that me espresso. 

5. Look-alike contests create community in the strangest of places: Every once in a while there comes a trend or “challenge” that takes the world by storm. Think the mannequin challenge or the very strange “devious licks” that plagued high schools a few years back. The most recent (and whimsical) of these trends is the look-alike contest. This, of course, began with none other than the Timothée Chalamet look-alike contest. It all started in late September when mysterious posters advertising a $50-prize Timothee Chalamet Lookalike Competition at Washington Square Park popped up around NYC. Some users noticed that the event was scheduled on October 27, one day later than a simultaneously advertised — and less popular — lookalike contest for streamer Kai Cenat, which would flop. 

What ultimately occurred was a flood of hundreds of people (contestants and spectators) who were dying to see who the newly crowned Timothée Chalamet would be. It drew a huge crowd (including the actual Timothée Chalamet!) and ended up getting shut down by the NYPD. The day ended with 21-year-old Miles Mitchell winning the event and at least four people getting arrested before the NYPD shut down the contest entirely. Additionally, the host Anthony Po was slammed with a $500 fine that Chalamet’s team reportedly offered to pay. 

The pure whimsy of the occasion prompted dozens of other look-alike contests. The viral phenomenon with a multitude of international copycat competitions centered around celebrities and public figures such as Harry Styles, Zendaya, Paul Mescal, Dev Patel, Jeremy Allen White, Zayn Malik, Glen Powell, Ethan Slater’s Boq, and even the alleged United Healthcare CEO shooting suspect, Luigi Mangione. The trend has continued as recently as December 21 with a Cincinnati Bengals footballer Joe Burrow lookalike event in the team’s home city. 

Although the results of the contests can be underwhelming for fans, participants and onlookers have formed a sense of camaraderie at these events. The usually low prize amounts add to the playful atmospheres of the events. We wouldn’t be shocked if this trend followed us into 2025.

4. The Paris Olympics have some viral moments: In the summer of 2024, athletes took Paris by storm. Specifically, Raygun, Stephen Nedoroscik, Henrik Christiansen, Anthony Ammirati, and Yusuf Dikec, more commonly known as the fake breakdancer from Australia, the pommel horse guy, the chocolate muffin man, the guy who knocked down the high jump bar with his manhood, and the sharpshooter who won silver without using any equipment. This year’s Olympics was full of hilarious moments that went viral all over social media. It honestly felt like a fever dream. 

Let’s start with breakdancing. While it gained interest for being a newly debuted Olympic sport, Raygun’s dance moves set the internet on fire, and not in a good way. Hopping like a kangaroo, rolling on the floor, and doing the sprinkler are certainly ways to express yourself, but they didn’t gain any points from the judges in the three rounds of competition. They did make for a great Halloween costume, though. Despite the hate and backlash she faced, Raygun is seemingly confident in her abilities, challenging haters to a dance-off and demanding $10,000 from a comedian who created a musical parody of her breakdancing story, “claiming the show infringed Gunn’s intellectual property.” Raygun may have played us all because I know her entire life story while having no idea who actually won gold in breakdancing. 

I also have to discuss pommel horse guy, Team USA’s very own Superman, whose performances on the horse clinched a bronze medal for himself and the men’s gymnastics team. After solving a Rubik’s cube in under 10 seconds earlier that day, Nedoroscik stepped up to the pommel horse, whipped off his glasses and turned from Clark Kent into a swinging and twirling Superman with limited vision. 

No one can forget the muffin man, a Norwegian swimmer who went viral on TikTok for his obsession with the Olympic Village’s chocolate muffins. It all started when Christiansen rated the muffin 11/10 and “insane.” After using a sound on TikTok that goes “Do you know the muffin man” and chronicling his love story with the Olympic chocolate muffins, Christiansen’s fame only escalated. I think I counted about 30 TikToks about chocolate muffins; he’s still posting about them. While he did not win a medal, muffin man’s love of chocolate muffins propelled him to stardom, nominated for a Betch of the Year Award for Niche Hyperfixation. I also can’t forget that muffin man swam in the Seine, the E. coli-riddled river that Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo swam in just to prove its safety. The men’s triathlon was postponed, multiple athletes fell ill, and Belgium withdrew its team. That definitely sounds like the river was clean, right? 

An unfortunate mishap led to Anthony Ammirati’s claim to fame. Videos spread like wildfire of the French pole vaulter’s bulge knocking down the pole, costing him his qualifying height for the final. Definitely one way to state you’ve got a rather large penis. 

It would be a serious mistake to miss out on mentioning Turkey’s sharpshooter Yusuf Dikec, who claimed silver in the 10m air pistol mixed team event. Dikec went viral for not wearing any of the technology or gear like his fellow sharpshooters, standing casually with his hand in his pocket while shooting. His pose went viral and multiple athletes at the Olympic Games copied it as a part of their celebrations. 

Honorable mentions go to the cardboard beds, Ilona Maher, Snoop Dogg’s dressage moment, Lebron James’s resemblance to George Washington during the opening ceremony, the mysterious masked torchbearer, and the surfer who accidentally mooned the cameras. I miss the Olympics. 

3. Chappell Roan rises to stardom: There is no doubt that 2024 was the year of the pop star — the pop star being Chappell Roan, that is. On April 5, Chappell made pop history by dropping one of the hottest songs of our generation, “Good Luck, Babe!” Initially debuting at number 77 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending April 20, 2024, the song became Chappell’s first entry on the chart and an eventual sleeper hit. It topped the charts at number four in September, and its success didn’t end there: “Good Luck, Babe!” has also been nominated not once, not twice, but three whole times for the forthcoming 67th Annual Grammy Awards — for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Pop Solo Performance. Anyone and everyone in the queer community understood just how important this success was — a lesbian topping (the charts) with a song about compulsory heterosexuality? A major win for queer culture, to say the least. Additionally, the breakthrough hit — along with her banger debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess — landed her roles in events like Coachella and Lollapalooza, where she drew record crowd sizes!

But things haven’t been all rainbows and sunshine for the pop star since her sudden surge to the top: after calling out the paparazzi for being disrespectful to her, making some election comments that not everyone liked, and dealing with stalkers and harassment, Chappell has unfortunately also had to deal with the dark underbelly of fame. But one thing’s for sure: we’re all rooting for her, no matter what obstacles she has to face in her bright, gay future.

Go, diva, go! And more importantly — good luck, babe!

2. The 2024 presidential election memes are hilarious: The 2024 election was filled with viral, memorable moments that riddled social media. Soon after Joe Biden dropped out of the race in late July and tapped Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Nominee, the Harris campaign capitalized on online trends to bolster support. First, the coconut tree clip skyrocketed the Harris campaign into social media eminence, with the Vice President asking, “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree? You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you.” Then, following Charli XCX’s declaration that “kamala [sic] IS brat,” the songs and aesthetic of the her Brat album became another key feature of the Harris campaign’s social media, complete with a neon green TikTok profile picture reading “kamala [sic] hq” in the signature black Arial font. The campaign’s TikTok account was riddled with videos and edits of Harris backed to songs by Charli XCX, Beyoncé, and Chappell Roan.

The virality of the 2024 election heightened following the presidential debate on September 10, during which former president Donald Trump mentioned a debunked report that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were eating pets, claiming, “They’re eating the dogs, the people that came in, they’re eating the cats.” The moment later went viral on TikTok, featuring videos of cats and dogs backed by the Trump line remixed to a beat. Another viral Trump moment also took social media by storm: upon being asked to explain his plan for the American healthcare system, the former president replied, “I have concepts of a plan. I’m not President right now.” The clip has been used in over 17,000 TikToks, many of which have completely removed it from the initial political context. Together, these two memes from the debate entirely took over the platform during the run up to the election.

Regardless of this election’s outcome, the importance of social media and online moments to each presidential campaign cannot be understated. Instead of opting for traditional cable news interviews and televised debates, President-elect Trump appeared on a score of podcasts, including “The Joe Rogan Experience” and “Impaulsive” with youtuber Logan Paul. Both candidates joined TikTok during the summer and garnered millions of followers by capitalizing on pop culture trends and influencer appearances on the campaign trail. In a time where about 40% of young Americans get their news from TikTok, we can expect to see more election memes in the years to come.

1. Charli XCX gives us Brat Summer: First, there was Hot Girl Summer, then came Barbie Summer — and this year? It was Brat Summer that took the crown, picking up the torch of these iconic seasonal movements. 2024 was undoubtedly Brat‘s year. It all started on a random day, May 2 to be exact, in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. A mysterious, neon lime-green wall popped up, plastered with a cryptic message. Charli XCX, ever the instigator, tweeted the location — marking the beginning of her album rollout, and unknowingly, the start of a new era. What began as a niche, cult moment within the Charli XCX fandom rapidly expanded into a movement that the masses would quickly latch onto. 

The album cover itself was simple, yet unforgettable: a blurry word brat set against a neon green backdrop. It was an image that screamed internet culture — and Charli, in true Brat fashion, fully leaned into the virality of it. Enter the Brat Text Generator, a meme machine that exploded across social media. Suddenly, you couldn’t scroll through Twitter or TikTok without encountering a meme in brat format. Singles from the album followed suit with viral moments of their own. The lead single “Von Dutch” became a TikTok sensation, especially when it got a remix featuring Addison Rae. “360” came with a music video starring internet favorites like Rachel Sennott and Julia Fox. And who could forget the viral TikTok dance to her infectious track “Apple”?

But perhaps the defining moment of Brat Summer came with the release of the much-anticipated “Girl, So Confusing” remix featuring Lorde. The song, already a fan favorite for its raw, emotionally honest lyrics, took on a new life when Lorde came on board as it confirmed that she was the subject of the song (I mean it was obvious, they do have the same hair).  Cool people still quote “Let’s work it out in the remix” to this day. At its core, “Girl, So Confusing” became an anthem for women navigating the complexities of friendship. The success of this collaboration was a launchpad for more — leading to an entire remix album, with features from artists like Billie Eilish, Tinashe, and Ariana Grande. 

Charli’s success continued with her Sweat Tour, where she joined forces with friend and collaborator Troye Sivan. Between the stroke-inducing visuals, the high-energy light shows, and the edgy outfits, together, they created an experience that was as bold and unapologetic as the Brat ethos itself.

Of course, Charli’s fans couldn’t help but notice the always-on-point sunglasses she wore, which — let’s be honest — sometimes seemed like a defense mechanism. It’s not hard to see why: Charli was living her best (and occasionally slightly out-of-it) Brat life. The girl knows how to party… sometimes a little too hard.

But really, we have to ask: What does it mean to be a brat?

Charli herself gave us the answer: “It’s an idea, a personality, a brand. A bold, blunt, volatile girl who’s a little messy, likes to party and maybe says some dumb things sometimes. A girl who feels herself but maybe also has a breakdown.” 

And that’s how Brat left a permanent mark on marketing, music, and pop culture.

Editor’s Note: This article was edited on Tuesday, December 31 to omit an unclear comment.

Header via Chancey Stefanos