Farewell 2025, Hello 2026! Here are the top 100 pop culture moments of this past year, as ranked by Bwog. Editor’s Note: Mentions of death, violence, and abuse.

2025 has been quite the year, and all we have to say is good riddance! 2026 is upon us, so we’re taking a trip down memory lane. As part of our annual tradition, we’ve compiled a list of the most notable news and culture moments from the past 365 days. Let us know about anything we missed in the comments below!

100. Abby Lee Miller Airbrushes Neil Patrick Harris: Abby Lee Miller resurfaced in the only way she knows how: FaceTuning. After seeing a performance of ART on Broadway, featuring Neil Patrick Harris, James Corden, and Bobby Canavale, Abby Lee posted her photos with the three actors–albeit a bit overly airbrushed. The uncanny edit of Neil Patrick Harris’s face drew criticism and confusion, with Neil Patrick Harris himself commenting, “Ummm… what did you do to my face..?” Abby Lee later stated she airbrushed the photos for her own comfort after her many rounds of chemo, though maybe she will double check with the other person in the photos next time.

99. 365 Buttons: So we’re collecting 365 buttons for each day of the new year because we want to do more stuff and want to be conscious of time, but it only really makes sense to us and we don’t feel like explaining it to anyone else.

98. Solidcore Beef: While scrolling on the TikTok, many of us may have landed in the middle of the Solidcore beef. TLDR; A man booked an early Solidcore class after Thanksgiving to find the studio completely empty. He then proceeded to record his whole experience on his Meta Glasses (the ones that you wear on your face to easily record other “things”). The studio panicked after seeing his video and spent Thanksgiving weekend pressuring him to take it down, including contacting his friends and constantly calling him. While TikTok sided with him, Reddit did not. Eventually, TikTok seemed to turn on him as well after accusations he is a Trump supporter started circulating.

97. Kim Kardashian Fails the Bar: In the latest episode of a six year long saga, Kim Kardashian shared online that she had failed the bar exam. Kardashian has taken a nontraditional route to obtaining a license to practice law. In California, without a college degree, you can do an apprenticeship course which involves studying for four years, taking a “baby bar” exam during that time, and then taking the bar exam. Kardashian passed the baby bar on her fourth try in 2021, but failed the real California bar exam, saying “I was so close to passing the exam and that only motivates me even more.” While Kardashian seems undeterred, the Internet had a field day, with those in the legal profession and beyond making fun of her studying videos or discussing the importance of barriers to practice.

96. Katy Perry Went to Space and is Dating Justin Trudeau: While this isn’t the first time Katy Perry has been in a space suit, it may be the most controversial time. In an all-female flight to Space, funded by Jeff Bezos, Katty Perry took to the stars, and kissed the Earth’s ground after she landed. Then, following her official split from actor Orlando Bloom, Perry was seen traipsing about with Justin Trudeau. While no one is really talking about it, good for her!

95. Tini Mac and Cheese Controversy: For years, Tini’s Mac and cheese recipe has consumed For You Pages around the country during the holiday season. Her “ultra-creamy” recipe not only defies norms by using cavatappi pasta, but also mixes hand-grated cheese and evaporated milk, keeping it moist for days. Becoming one of the most viewed recipes on TikTok, people have begun posting videos trying it out for their own Thanksgiving dinners, documenting whether their efforts result in a triumphant spotlight-stealing side dish, or a disappointing grainy mess on account of an improperly cooked roux. However, this year, the conversation went beyond simple mac and cheese. Earlier this year, one of Tini’s twins died during pregnancy due to a placental abruption. While many showed public support for Tini in her time of grief, others used the tragedy to increase their own social media viewership, insisting that their Thanksgiving has become sadder due to the death of Tini’s child. Tini came out against these people, asking that no one use her grief to boost their own platforms. However, this only sparked more discussion, as people started posting videos about how terrible it was that others were taking advantage of Tini’s hardships, bringing more attention to the topic, and angering Tini further. Recently, Tini has taken a break from social media, while many continue to milk her story for views.

94. Max, Formerly HBO Max, Becomes HBO Max Again: After two long years, HBO Max has finally returned to its rightful name. While Warner Bros. Discovery tried, albeit unsuccessfully, to convince everyone to call it Max, no one actually did. In fact, some people at Bwog still cling to the discontinued HBO Max app like a relic from a better era. The reversal marks the admission that the internet was right all along.

93. George Santos Gets Out of Prison: Disgraced former U.S. Rep. George Santos had his seven-year prison sentence commuted by Donald Trump this October. Santos had been sentenced in April after admitting to deceiving donors and stealing the identities of 11 people to make fraudulent campaign donations. At the time of his commutation, he was being held at a minimum-security federal prison camp, having served only a small portion of his sentence before being released.

92. Nancy Pelosi Retires: Nancy Pelosi’s retirement should have been a greatly talked about moment, especially with her recent controversies in years passed, but it instead landed with a shrug. After decades of influence, leadership, and omnipresence in American politics, her exit barely registered online. The lack of reaction felt telling, perhaps a judgement on the legacy Democrats and the collective political exhaustion.

91. Nicole Kidman Divorces Keith Urban: While she is best known to me as the cardigan-wrapping star of Big Little Lies and the AMC previews queen, Nicole Kidman also filed for divorce from her husband, country star Keith Urban this year. Citing irreconcilable differences, this news came as a surprise to many after 19 years of marriage. There were few signs of the split before TMZ broke the news, as just a year earlier Urban spoke emotionally when Kidman won the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award, saying that she showed “what love in action really looks like.”

90. Ethel Cain and Lana Del Rey Beef: This feud is yet another reason why I find being a Lana fan embarrassing. It started when Lana Del Rey posted a snippet of an unreleased song titled “Track 13,” featuring the lyrics, “Ethel Cain hated my Instagram post / Think it’s cute reenacting my Chicago pose.” The “Chicago pose” references a picture Del Rey took outside Chicago Cook County jail with ex-boyfriend Jack Donoghue, one that Ethel Cain recreated with Donoghue as well. Del Rey elaborated further in a now-deleted Instagram comment, “I didn’t know who Ethel was until a few years ago … when I heard what she was saying behind closed doors … I was definitely disturbed.” Cain posted after on her Instagram story that she had been blocked by Del Rey.

89. Justin Bieber Stands On Business: In a bizarre paparazzi confrontation, Justin Bieber concerned everyone with his misappropriation of AAVE. “You’re not getting it. It’s not clocking to you. It’s not clocking to you that I’m standing on business, is it?” Bieber said. The video quickly became popular on TikTok and Twitter, and has since become a repeated phrase in many of our vocabularies.

88. Why Would You Show Up Fat and Wearing Jeans? What began as a misunderstanding of The Long Walk’s central themes quickly became an internet phenomenon. Letterboxd reviewer Bennett Vierhus wrote of Stephen King’s The Long Walk, “The whole premise of this movie was terrible. Why would you volunteer for this contest? And then once you’re chosen, why would you show up fat and wearing jeans.” Discussions that were meant to grapple with endurance, obedience, and the slow violence of authoritarian systems instead fixated on surface-level takes, treating the story like a gritty survival challenge rather than the bleak allegory it is. But, the take was a little funny.

87. Charli XCX and George Daniel: This certainly wasn’t on my 2025 bingo card. Brat singer Charli XCX and producer and drummer from the 1975 George Daniel got married in two different ceremonies this year. The first was a lowkey wedding in Hackney Town Hall with just a few family and friends, while the second was an iconic party in Sicily. The latter was attended by celebrity friends including Matty Healy, Troye Sivan, and Julia Fox, and had party favors including cigarettes. I guess my invite just got lost in the mail.

86. Tate McRae: This Canadian singer had quite the year. Starting off with the release of her album So Close to What, she also made her first appearance as a guest on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and her second on Saturday Night Live. Her song “Just Keep Watching” was featured on the F1 soundtrack and won McRae her first Grammy nomination. Shortly after, her breakup with the Kid Laroi was announced, after a year of dating. All the while, she was going viral for the Miss Possessive tour, which was praised for its choreography.

85. “Saturday Night Live” Layoffs: Ahead of season 51 a wave of departures hit the studio, with longtime cast members like Heidi Gardner, Michael Longfellow, Emil Wakim, and Devon Walker all announcing they wouldn’t be returning, along with some others. Later in the year the story continued, with the midseason exit of Bowen Yang after nearly seven seasons, a fan favorite whose farewell sketch with Ariana Grande and Cher ended up being one of the biggest moments of the broadcast. The turner wasn’t limited to cast members either; several writers including Celeste Yim, Rosebud Baker, John Higgins, and Steven Castillo also left, making it one of the most dramatic off-season overhauls in recent history. Some of us mourned the loss of beloved cast members while others joked about SNL’s “ongoing identity crisis” and if course there were questions about diversity and creative direction as the lineup sees some big shifts, fresh faces, and new writers. 

84. We Are Charlie Kirk: Dare I say AI at its finest? Following the murder of political commentator Charlie Kirk, the We Are Charlie Kirk song appeared seemingly out of thin air and quite literally took over the internet. Obviously, violence is bad, and poking fun at the song is not to take away the gravity of Kirk’s death. But you have to agree: “We are Charlie Kirk, we carry the flame. We’ll fight for the Gospel, we’ll honor his name.” That’s just poetry, isn’t it?

83. Dubai Chocolate (Again): Initially going viral in 2024, Dubai Chocolate is still trending after what feels like forever. People love this combination of the pistachio and chocolate so much that in 2025 it is known to be the most likely contributor to the international pistachio shortage this year. Beyond the chocolate itself, 2025 was the year where people in Dubai chocolate’d everything from what can be considered more normal items like items like strawberries, croissants and cookies to more outrageous things like burgers and even Labubu’s.

82. New Lorde Album: Lorde’s new album Virgin plays like a 3 am text you absolutely should not send but keep rereading anyway. A sleek, bruised electro-pop confessional where the glow of Solar Power gives way to neon-lit anxiety and post-breakup rebirth. It runs only 11 tracks, but each one feels like a meticulously underlined diary entry rather than a playlist grab, raiding Melodrama’s synth cabinet and stripping it down so that small production jolts hit harder than any big chorus. The sound stays minimal and intimate, letting distortion and stacked vocals play like emotional jump scares, with “Clearblue” as the gut punch. By the time “If She Could See Me Now” rolls the end credits for the girl from “Ribs” finally lifting weights instead of emotional baggage, Virgin has made it clear it isn’t here to give you bangers; it’s here to make you realize that you’re the problem, then let you dance about it anyway.

81. New York Magazine Articles: New York Magazine scored a couple of genuinely viral profiles this year, which turned into nationwide talking points. One of the biggest was their cover story about the so-called “West Village Girl”: a generation of young, fashion-obsessed New Yorkers defined by Aperol spritzes, matcha lattes, pilates, and a very specific aesthetic that seemed to dominate TikTok feeds and conversations over brunch or drinks. The piece captured a moment where social media-esque lifestyle content became real-world behavior, and the phrase “West Village Girl” instantly blew up online as people simultaneously praised and roasted the surprisingly accurate archetype. Another NYMag hit came from an early year cover on young MAGA supporters, which sparked huge debate. The mysterious woman on the cover became a meme of its own, with readers joking about her presence and speculating about her identity, even as critics accused the magazine of cropping out Black attendees and skewing the narrative. The result was weeks of commentary, turning what would have otherwise been a niche political piece into a viral one. 

80. Celsius and High Noon Mix-Up: Celsius: a favorite among college students for its whopping 200mg of caffeine. Another college favorite? High Noon: the vodka seltzer that is a staple at nearly every dorm party. Maybe you’ve had both at the same time and thought “wow, these cans look really similar.” Well, you’re not the only one. Celsius energy drink cans were sent to High Noon’s production facility, where they were filled with vodka seltzer and packages with the rest of the High Noon inventory. Some poor college kid trying to stay up so they could cram for their exam in the morning was actually getting buzzed off a seltzer masquerading as an energy drink.

79. Lily Allen’s Divorce: Lily Allen’s “West End Girl” is undoubtedly my album of the year, despite it only being released in October. The songwriting, the music, the theme, the storytelling, I could go on. The album’s origin, however, isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Allen is currently involved in a publicized divorce with David Harbour, an American actor known for his role in Stranger Things. Allen and Harbour were in an open relationship, the strain on which was evident in the highly infamous Architectural Digest video in which the couple gave viewers a look into their Brooklyn townhouse. Harbour even does a bit at the beginning where he pretends the cameraperson is a woman who’s come to have an affair with him… holy foreshadowing. The couple agreed to keep their encounters outside of their relationship strictly physical, but Harbour ended up pursuing an emotional relationship with another woman. Every song on the album does an incredibly job of giving listeners an idea of the turmoil Allen went through: insecurity, confusion, disillusionment. One of my favourite songs off “West End Girl” is “Madeline.” It’s infuriating in the best way possible, framed as a conversation between Allen and Madeline (a pseudonym for the woman Harbour cheated on her with). I’d urge everyone to listen to “West End Girl”—another favourite track of mine is “Sleepwalking,” and Allen just performed it on SNL—and watch the Architectural Digest video on Youtube.

78. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey: Christopher Nolan’s summer 2026 The Odyssey is going to be huge. How can it not be, when the hype is already so great? It’s going to be a massive film, a mythic action epic shot entirely with new IMAX 70mm film cameras, a first for a feature film and a sign that Nolan has crazy things in store. What’s really getting people excited is the cast: Matt Damon as Odysseus, Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Zendaya as Athena, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, and more. Star-studded is an understatement. Early teasers have already got people absolutely buzzing with anticipation: Damon emerging from the Trojan Horse with glimpses of gods and monsters. Not many theaters have 70mm IMAX capabilities, but the ones that do have already sold out tickets for the first few weeks of screenings in July. That’s seven months from now. Oppenheimer, Interstellar, Dunkirk, Dark Night, Inception… each of them showed us what Nolan is capable of, and it looks like The Odyssey is going to take all of that to the next level. 

77. The Penny is Dead: Find a penny, pick it up, and all day long you’ll have good luck. Well, not anymore. The penny has been officially discontinued after more than 230 years of production. The U.S. Mint in Philadelphia created the final pennies in November, ending the manufacturing of the coin as a cost-saving and practicality move. Don’t worry, your pennies are still worth their 1 cent and you’ll probably keep getting them as change and finding them at the bottom of fountains, no new ones will ever be made again. Apparently, it costs 3.7 cents to make each 1-cent coin, and stopping production will save $56 million annually. 

76. Cancelled Podcast: The end of Tana Mongeau’s Cancelled podcast launched her and co-host Brooke Schofield back into the spotlight. After years of unfiltered chats, wild stories, and viral moments, Mongeau and Schofield confirmed that the podcast was winding down as their contract neared its end; mostly because both hosts wanted to focus on their mental health, other projects, and have some personal space. Mongeau even said she saw the finale as “final outlier in [her] peace era,” hinting that the weekly chaos might be over (at least for now). This wasn’t the first time the issue had come up. The two sometimes butted heads on air over how to handle the show’s future, the direction of the YouTube channel, and creative control, leading to some awkward behind the scenes moments that were memed as “Cancelled energy.” Reactions ranged from nostalgia for the podcast’s goofy early days to debates over whether this “peace era” was really the end or just a break for now. 

75. Trisha Paytas: Bwog’s pop culture moments of the year are not complete without some mention of Trisha Paytas, the internet personality who has been gracing our phone screens for years. She had her third child, Aquaman Moses Paytas-Hacmon, who joins the ranks of Malibu Barbie and Elvis. A power trio that makes for a very funny group Halloween costume. To continue the baby reincarnation conspiracy, his birth announcement coincided with news of Ozzy Osbourne’s death. And so, the saga continues. She also toured The Eras of Trish Tour across North America, which covered decades of pop culture lore. She dropped her EP Postpartum Popstar. Let’s just say it was an EP to remember.

74. Moonbeam Ice Cream: The phrase “moonbeam ice cream” from Benson Boone’s song “Mystical Magical” was certainly… unavoidable this year. So unavoidable, in fact, that Crumbl Cookies released a limited-edition Moonbeam Ice Cream cookie in collaboration with the artist. What does moonbeam ice cream taste like? I couldn’t tell you for the life of me. (For those who are curious, Crumbl’s take on the flavour is lemon, berry, and marshmallow.) This led to Crumbl customers backflipping (as the man himself usually does) before proceeding to order the cookie. The song itself is pretty catchy, despite the lyrics leaving much to be desired. For those who have somehow been able to evade this phenomenon, the song goes: “Moonbeam ice cream / Taking off your blue jeans / Dancing at the movies / ‘Cause it feels so mystical magical.” Sure does, Benson.

73. The Inauguration: On January 20, Donald Trump was sworn in (again) as the 47th President of the United States, a rare repeat return to the White House after a heated campaign filled with twists and turns. The oath was done inside, due to high winds and cold temperatures. The change of program entered public discourse, as Twitter compared it to previous inaugurations, which historically have been very, very cold. The inaugural address leaned into themes of national pride and a pledge to put America first, and the day included everything from a small parade to a slate of inaugural balls. Of course, there was commentary surrounding the whole thing. From discussions about crowd sizes to serious policy speculations to changing traditions. 

72. I Love LA: The Rachel Sennot-created comedy about a codependent Gen Z friend group trying to figure out work, love, and self-worth in LA was a huge hit among critics and viewers alike. Its discussion of busy careers, influencer culture and wild friend drama was a kind of chaos that was relatable to a lot of people. It’s the kind of unhinged that Friends embodied, romanticizing a ride-or-die friend group going through all the ups and downs of life. The press was buzzing and the PR featured pop-ups in several cities. Of course, the internet has been going crazy recently as I Love LA star Jordan Firstman sparked a viral discussion when he commented on the queer storytelling in Heated Rivalry, another HBO show that has amassed a cult following, saying that it was “two straight hockey players pretending to be gay.” Notably, neither of Heated Rivalry’s stars have spoken openly about their sexualities. This, of course, was met with backlash from Heated Rivalry fans. One Heated Rivalry cast member, François Arnaud, responded, asking whether there was only one way for the portrayal to be authentic, Hudson Williams reshared the post, urging fans to watch I Love LA. The internet blew up with memes around HBO’s PR team frantically trying to squash the beef between the two shows. Williams and Firstman have since had several appearances together, with Williams posting a photo of the two of them and HBO posting a formal collab. Beef squashed, it seems.

71. Campbell’s Soup Executive Comment: This is one of those things that’s too weird not to trend, so of course it became a huge spectacle despite being profoundly, profoundly stupid. A lawsuit filed by a former Campbell’s Soup employee alleges that the company’s Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer Martin Bally was secretly recorded insulting Campbell’s products, calling them “shit for fucking poor people” and trashing the ingredients as “bioengineered” and coming from a “3-D printer” while also making racist remarks about his coworkers, calling Indian workers “idiots.” Robert Garza, who filed the lawsuit, also alleges that Bally would come to work on edibles. After approaching his supervisors about Bally’s behavior, Garza was fired, prompting the lawsuit.

70. Avatar: Fire and Ash: The Avatar franchise returned this year in a big way with Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third installment of the series that hit theaters in December. The sequel continued the story of Jake, Neytiri, and the Sully family while introducing a new Na’vi tribe, the Ash People. Early reactions from press screenings were positive, praising the visuals and emotions that have defined the earlier Avatar films. A lot of people loved Miley Cyrus’s original song “Dream As One” and had it on a loop. She apparently personally pitched the track to director James Cameron at the Oscars earlier this year. The movie raked it in at the box office over Christmas weekend. Star Oona Chaplin was teasing future character arcs that had fan theories taking over the internet as they speculated where the saga might go next.

68. Skims Bush Underwear: Yet another insane curveball that doesn’t seem that surprising in hindsight, Skims released a new product this year: the faux hair micro string thong, aka bush underwear. Not really sure what we’re supposed to think about this, but the internet sure had a lot to say. Kim Kardashian herself admitted that it was supposed to be silly, and she was shocked at all of the attention it got. For those of you interested, the underwear comes in 12 combinations with different skin tones, hair colors, and hair textures. Based on some very professional academic research, they appear to be on sale from $32 to $19, although they are all currently sold out with a waitlist available. But be warned all sales are final; if you buy these, you’re stuck with them. 

68. Queen of Pakistan Onijah Robinson: Onijah Robinson became known as the Queen of Pakistan after a viral saga where the New Yorker traveled to Karachi, Pakistan to marry her 19-year-old online boyfriend, Nidal Ahmed Memon when she was 33. His family did not approve of the relationship, which she spoke about with Pakistani media. She overstayed her tourist visa and spent months camped outside his family’s former residence, requesting $3000 per week and Pakistani citizenship. Weirdly related but also completely separate, she gained interest in the Quran and Islam, opened an OnlyFans, allegedly made $25,000 in 2 days, and promptly closed it, saying she “didn’t know it wasn’t allowed in Islam.” There really isn’t much to comment on this. The story seems to speak for itself with its absurd, random turn of events. You just can’t make this stuff up.

67. What we love most about 67 is that it has no joke behind it to explain, which makes it an innocent, all-inclusive kind of fun. It means people of all ages and backgrounds can be in on the joke together—and personally, we think that is beautiful. Have you seen clips of elderly relatives joining in on the fun with the youngest bunch at a family gathering? Or teachers having something simple that makes their kids laugh and enjoy themselves? If you genuinely think you’re too cool for it, you might as well also consider yourself one of the biggest losers ever. We appreciate 67 a lot because it feels like a rare moment of pure, innocent wholesomeness in an otherwise relatively depressing year.

66. Funeral Stud: We’ve all seen the video: it was heartfelt and raw and emotional and absolutely unhinged. We’re not sure who thought this was a good idea, but it made for a great TikTok, garnering millions of views. Watching the powerful rendition of The Intruders’ “I Wish That Heaven Had a Phone” makes you wonder if you should laugh, cry, dance, or just stare blankly. Remember y’all, this was someone’s funeral.

65. Prince Andrew Stripped of Title Keys: There’s always some drama, but the saga of Prince Andrew being stripped of his royal titles was one of the biggest royal family headlines of the year. King Charles III formally removed Andrew’s “Prince” title and his role as Duke of York after years of controversy tied to his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and renewed scrutiny following Virginia Giuffre’s memoir. His name has been scrubbed from the official royal family website, and he has been required to surrender his Windsor residence and move to a private residence as part of the process. 

The monarchy made the step to protect their reputation, with Buckingham palace explicitly expressing sympathy for survivors of abuse while distancing the institution from the Epstein case. Andrew now goes by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in public life, minus his formal honors. Technically, he is still in the line of succession for the throne. Online reactions were a mix of pure astonishment, memes about his royal fall from grace, and debates about how far the monarchy should go in terms of modernizing and holding its own people accountable.

64. Target Shoplifter: A woman tried, and failed, to steal approximately $1,300 worth of merchandise from Target in early May, starting one of the most bizarre retail sagas of the year. The incident, captured in an almost 20-minute video uploaded to the YouTube channel Body Cam Edition, had viewers watching the woman calmly argue that she should just be allowed to pay for the items after being detained. This flimsy logic went viral on TikTok and Instagram, where individuals discussed and made fun of the event.

63. Sombr: 2025 was breakout indie-pop star Sombr’s year, as he became one of the most talked about artists in the world. After his songs “Back to Friends” and “Undressed” went viral on TikTok and climbed global charts, Sombr took off, with both songs hitting the Billboard Hot 100 and “Back to Friends” breaking into the top 10. His debut album I Barely Know Her dropped in August and was met with strong reactions. It blended pop and indie rock while exploring love and heartbreak. He snagged multiple Video Music Award nominations, won Best Alternative Video for “Back to Friends,” and delivered a show-stealing performance at the awards show. 

His Late Nights & Young Romance tour sold out areas across North America, Europe, and Australia, proving that the hype extended beyond TikTok fame. Fans pointed to his quirky style, emotional lyrics and raw stage energy as key parts of his appeal. One viral TikTok review of one of his shows described it as “one of the worst experiences of my life,” calling the crowd mostly young teens and criticizing Sombr’s jokes, including requests for the crowd to “bark” and brainrot meme references that older fans didn’t understand. Sombr responded with his own video defending his performance and suggesting the original poster should lighten up. 

62. MrBeast’s Beast Games: The reality competition Beast Games premiered on Amazon Prime with 1000 contestants vying for a huge cash prize of $10 million, becoming one of the most watched unscripted series of the year with tens of millions of viewers. The first season’s dramatic finale saw Jeff Allen (player 831) walk away with the prize money, a viral and heartfelt moment when he said he would be using the money to support his son’s medical needs. As sweet as it was, Allen had to go through some unhinged challenges to get there, with contestants competing in giant beer pong, extreme archery, and various psychological and social games. But, Beast Games didn’t end there: Amazon and MrBeast confirmed the show will return with crazier ambitions, including a crossover with Survivor and now seasons in the works, while MrBeast expanded his brand with Beast Land, a real-world theme park bringing his challenges to the public in Saudi Arabia. 

61. Paige Bueckers’ Hard Launch with Azzi Fudd: UConn basketball graduate Paige Bueckers finally confirmed she’s dating former teammate Azzi Fudd during an interview, fresh off being the #1 pick of the Dallas Wings. Following online speculation, Fudd was seen using a phone case that said “Paige Bueckers’ Girlfriend” on it. A photo of the couple became the relationship goals of the season, with fans reacting with a mix of wholesome excitement and glee, including tournament-style brackets joking that Bueckers and Fudd would win the dating championship. Even casual sports followers were locked in on the couple heard around the world. Nothing says viral moment like two of the game’s favorite players happily confirming what everyone was already cheering for. 

60. McKenna Grace Had a Crazy Year: McKenna Grace seemed to be everywhere at once this year. She continued her time on the big screen with the romantic drama Forgetting You and reunited with horror fans in Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, leaning into Grace’s love of the franchise, pestering her agents and the studio to get cast in the movie. On top of all that, she popped up in the dystopian thriller Anniversary and is cast in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, which will be in theaters in 2026. 2025 wasn’t just busy for McKenna Grace, it was the year she stopped being “that kid actor who’s in everything” and started being “that adult actor who’s in everything.”

59. Smiling Friends: Smiling Friends spent 2025 proving unhinged comedy and animation may just be what everyone needs. As more viewers tuned in the watch Smiling Friends season 3, more memes started to emerge. Every episode dropped this year resulted in some sort of reaction image or one-liners. The hype reached its peak with the Brooklyn pop-up, which confirmed that Smiling Friends had officially crossed from cult favorite to real-world phenomenon. Thousands of fans waited for hours in brutal New York cold for the chance to step into the show’s warped universe, enduring the elements for tiny figurines, pins, and bragging rights. 

58. West End: Don’t cry for me–though maybe you should because we missed out on Rachel Zegler’s iconic balcony performance in Jamie Lloyd’s Evita.  Drawing thousands of onlookers, Lloyd once again collapsed the boundary between street and stage by having Zegler, known for her roles in Snow White and West Side Story, step out onto the London Palladium balcony to sing “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina.”

Not all West End experiments landed as well. The Hunger Games premiered at the new Troubadour Canary Wharf Theatre, though with many questions and concerns about the accessibility of the theatre–and if the show is even good. Critics claim the show sanitizes the themes of The Hunger Games and, to top it off, the actress playing Katniss is Team Gale…what? 

In other major news, the Paddington Bear from the musical adaptation of Padington is not a scary bear and instead a rather adorable two-person puppet.  The beloved character was brought to life by onstage performer Arti Shah and offstage puppeteer James Hameed. 

57. Cardi B’s Trial: Cardi B’s trial felt like a courtroom drama, ending in a clear victory for her. The jury unanimously found Cardi B not liable in a $24 million civil lawsuit brought by a former security guard who claimed she was assaulted outside a Beverly Hills medical office in 2018. The verdict came after less than an hour of deliberation, meaning Cardi won’t pay any damages. But the real virality wasn’t just the verdict of the case, it was everything around it. Clips of Cardi’s testimony went viral, with her unhinged responses, expressive reactions, and ever-changing courtroom wigs fueling memes across TikTok and X. Outside the courthouse, she even tossed a pen at a reporter asking a question about her personal life, adding to the spectacle. 

56. Black Friday Doorbusters: Doorbuster deals made a full comeback in 2025, though some retailers understood the assignment far better than others. Lowe’s delivered in a big way, giving away large buckets packed with items, and even giving out an appliance at every store. Doorbuster deals are back in 2025, though some brands did better than others. Lowe’s gave away large buckets of items (and even an appliance at every Lowe’s store). Target, meanwhile, went viral for its skimpy silver bags filled with samples and vague promises of maybe winning something better. JCPenney and Kohl’s leaned hard into nostalgia, offering Kohl’s Cash, JCPenney snow globes, and the kind of old-school incentives that had shoppers lining up overnight just for the thrill of it.

55. 2025 Golden Globes Recap: The 2025 Golden Globes ended up being the awards show that everyone talked about for some very heartfelt reasons. Zendaya soft-launched her engagement right on the red carpet, flashing a ring that instantly became the new standard for quiet flex moments. On the awards side, Emilia Perez dominated in a way that very few people expected. The Spanish-language musical crime film led the night with multiple wins including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Non-English Language Film, Best Original Song (“El Mal”), and Best Supporting Actress for Zoe Saldaña, which was her first Golden Globe win. Some fans celebrated the wins as a long overdue spotlight on international film, while others were confused how a Netflix musical beat out Hollywood staples and big-budget crowd favorites like Anora and Wicked. Clips of the musical’s wild scenes started trending, sparking big conversation.

54. Millie Bobby Brown’s Child: Millie Bobby Brown is in her parenthood era, and a lot of people aren’t quite sure how to feel about it. After marrying Jake Bongiovi (yes, that Bon Jovi family) in 2024, they welcomed their baby girl via adoption this summer, announcing it with the sweetest “and then there were three” post that immediately lit up everyone’s feed. The shift from Stranger Things’ Eleven to farm-life mom vibes led to a minefield of hot takes on how young Millie is to be in this stage of life already. 

53. Cracker Barrel Rebrand: What beloved, southern food chain Cracker Barrel meant to be modern brand refresh turned into a whole scandal overnight. First, the logo, now turned into a sleek new minimalist text-only graphic, notably ditching the beloved “Old Timer” character and vintage barrel, started the outrage. Then, the interior redesign, stripping the “vintage” feel of framed photos, rocking chairs, old license plates, and going for beige, blank walls, and solid color furniture, really sealed the deal. Loyal fans, critics, and late-night comics all piled on, calling the rebrand boring, “woke,” or downright offensive to nostalgia. Even the company’s stock took a tumble as the backlash went viral, and within days, Cracker Barrel scrapped the new logo entirely and brought back the classic one that everyone actually recognized. So much for the money (several million) spent on that one. 

52. Ned Fulmer’s Podcast: Former Try Guy Ned Fulmer, who left the group after news broke in 2022 that he had been having an affair with a subordinate production assistant at the company, returned to the internet in 2025. He started a new YouTube channel where he tries things (if that channel concept sounds familiar, don’t worry, many people agree), as well as a podcast called “Rock Bottom” where he explores people’s “lowest, most embarrassing, and challenging moments.” The first guest on his podcast? None other than his ex-wife and the woman he cheated on, Ariel Fulmer. 

The podcast episode explored the affair from both of their perspectives and how it felt to be in the public eye during such a difficult moment. Comments on the video took sides in the discussion, with some criticizing Ned for exploiting his relationship with his now ex-wife as a way of returning to the content-creator world, and others bringing attention to the fact that, in the video, Ned did not take any accountability for his actions. That episode of his podcast currently sits at 1.2 million views with 17,000 comments. His most recent episode barely got 1,000 views and only has 124 comments. It seems the numbers speak for themselves when it comes to the future of Ned Fulmer’s career on YouTube.

51. Kris Jenner’s New Face: 2025 turned Kris Jenner’s cosmetic glow-up into one of the year’s most talked-about moments. After going public about her second facelift ahead of her 70th birthday, Jenner leaned into the conversation on The Kardashians by joking that her nose is “probably the only thing on her face that’s real” after all the work she’s had done. Fans had a field day. Some praised her confidence and “aging on her own terms,” others couldn’t stop talking about how different she looked compared with earlier pics and memes about filters, lighting, and unfiltered red-carpet shots spread fast. 

50. Trump Calling a Reporter “Piggy”: Rounding out the top half of our events with none other than Donald Trump, calling a reporter asking a question about Epstein “piggy.” More specifically, saying “quiet, quiet, piggy.”

49. How To Train Your Dragon Live-Action Remake: Here, we have dragons. It’s time to return to the Isle of Berk to hang out with your favorite characters! We’ve got Mason Thames as Hiccup, Nico Parker as Astrid, Gerard Butler reprising his role as Stoick, and many more of our loveable childhood friends. People weren’t so sure of what to think of the How to Train Your Dragon (HTTYD) live-action remake at first since live-actions don’t have the best track record. However, HTTYD debuted to strong, positive reviews, many of which described the remake as retaining much of the original’s character. Dean DeBlois returned to direct and write while John Powell returned to score the live-action remake. The dragons were largely redesigned to have a more realistic feel, though Toothless seems more similar to his original catlike design. The sequel has already been confirmed. This may serve as a blueprint for other studios to make live-action remakes due to the positive reception for HTTYD. 

48. The Hunger Games: 2025 was a Hunger Games renaissance year with Suzanne Collins dropping Sunrise on the Reaping, the long-anticipated fifth book that zooms in on the 50th Hunger Games where a young Haymitch first battled for survival in Panem. Fans treated the March release like a complete pop culture event complete with midnight parties and bestseller bragging rights. And of course, Hollywood wasn’t sleeping through all of this. Lionsgate wasted no time confirming a big-screen adaptation for late 2026, giving fans the long-awaited Haymitch story in film. While casting announcements rolled out through TikTok, the production also opened the door for fans to audtiion as extras through TikTok acting challenges–an experiment that went a step further when a TikTok creator was not just cast as an extra, but a named character in the film.

47. Jojo Siwa: 2025 turned into a wild era for JoJo Siwa’s public image, especially with the whole “tradwife” vibe the internet jokingly pinned on her. After revealing she no longer identifies as a lesbian and instead embraces the broader label of queer while publicly dating Celebrity Big Brother alum Chris Hughes, fans and critics alike joked that her sudden love for vintage glam and conventional couple aesthetics looked like a straight‑up “tradwife era” complete with pearls, old‑Hollywood energy, and playful nostalgia. This is an especially dramatic shift (get the reference?) from her previous era, which focused on more adult themes, sexuality, and queerness.

Of course, JoJo herself pushed back, insisting the look was just a costume and that her identity and support for the queer community haven’t disappeared just because she’s in a relationship with a man. Social media lit up with everything from straight‑up admiration to “did I just wake up in a 1950s romance novel?” jokes, making Siwa’s evolution one of the most talked‑about celebrity arcs of the year.

46. Addison Rae: Despite her TikTok-dancing, Hype House roots, Addison Rae has successfully rebranded and turned herself into one of the biggest pop stars and it-girls of 2025. With the release of her first album, Addison, Addison presented an all woman-produced work of pop-perfection. She also went on her first tour, doing small shows globally where she proved herself as the full package. Finally, towards the end of the year it was revealed that Addison Rae secured a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. I just want to say, Addison, I never doubted you. 

45. Zootopia 2: When will the rabbit and the fox kiss? That was on many viewers minds as they started watching Zootopia 2. However, as they finished watching, many viewers connected the themes of land, borders, and displacement for allegories for Palestine and broader histories of colonialism. As discourse grew, Judy Hopps’s voice actress Ginnifer Goodwin instead described the film as being about “the human condition,” to many online audiences frustrations. But, one thing everyone could agree on was that that yellow dress did NOT suit Judy.

44. The Gulf of America: Trump changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, reflected in both Google and Apple Maps. Need we say much else?

43. Grok is a Nazi?: This is one of those controversies that is actually a very legitimate cautionary tale wrapped up in absolute chaos. Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok (an edgy, unfiltered alternative to other chatbots) unexpectedly started spewing insensitive and antisemitic content, including posts that praised Hitler and referred to itself with names like “MechaHitler” before those responses were eventually deleted. The whole thing brought up issues about AI use and safety combined with shock over how insane the whole situation was. Questions circulated about whether the slip up was a glitch or a design choice. Musk tried to brush off the comments, saying that the bot was “too compliant to user prompts.” Generative AI can be unpredictable, and Grok was just one example of how cutting-edge technology can turn into the year’s weirdest tech scandal.

42. Trump’s Health: There’s just no escaping Trump. Most notably, his death scare over Labor Day weekend had the country in a chokehold. Social media convinced itself that Trump died on vacation, and news of his supposed death spread like wildfire before it was eventually cleared up. Of course, behind the jokes were real questions about age and ability, especially given photos of Trump’s bruised hands, absences from public events, and rumors around circulatory issues. Trump’s doctors described him as being in good health, shutting down any rumors that he was dead or had major health issues.

41. Bad Bunny’s Residency: Bad Bunny’s massive Las Vegas residency had every show feeling like a full-blown spectacle, with pyrotechnics, awesome choreography, and costume changes that rival Broadway productions. Clips of dance floors going crazy with confetti cannons firing were everywhere. Bad Bunny led with his signature energy, mixing chaos and charisma in the best way. 

40. Anna Wintour Retires, Vogue has a New EIC: Anna Wintour has been an establishment of the fashion world for as long as anyone can remember. This year, she finally closed the book on an era of iconic covers, Met Gala dominance, and side-eye energy. Enter Chloe Malle stepping in as head of editorial content and bringing in a younger, digital-savvy vibe to the legendary magazine. Social media was beaming with nostalgia for Wintour, with memes of her signature bob and sunglasses and hot takes on how Vogue might change under new leadership. The torch has officially been passed onto the next generation.

39. Sabrina Carpenter Was Cancelled Over an Album Cover: Sabrina Carpenter was surprisingly “cancelled” earlier this year upon the announcement of her seventh album, Man’s Best Friend. Why you may ask? Well, much on theme with the album title, Sabrina is seen pictured posing on all fours like a dog while a man grabs her hair. Apparently this was considered a little too “degrading” and “disturbing” by the public, and in my opinion, led to some of the most insane backlash this year. I mean sure, I know everyone’s a little sensitive due to the crazy fast rise of conservatism in this country, but come on, this is literally Sabrina Carpenter, you know, the one that kills men and dances in churches in her music videos. Regardless, people were not happy, claiming that Sabrina’s feminism is “male-centric.” This all persisted, despite the fact that the lead single was titled “Manchild,” which to me is the ultimate proof the whole thing is a satire (and genius marketing, to be honest). Say what you want, Man’s Best Friend was one of my favorite albums this year. 

This kind of goes along with when Sabrina Carpenter’s tour was being criticized for being too sexual and inappropiate, which in general just brings me to a bigger point, when will we stop criticizing women artists for not being kid-appropiate all the time? It’s insane to me that when women make pop music, they’re expected to cater to an entirely 11-year-old audience, a standard that is not at all kept for their male counterparts. Like sure, Sabrina’s shows probably aren’t appropriate for most little girls, but she never said they were? I mean, just listen to her lyrics. Even Olivia Rodrigo, an artist I consider pretty PG-13, faced criticism for her GUTS tour shows, just because she curses a few times. I mean, jeez. 

38. Crumbl Founder Accidentally Outed as Gay: Sawyer Hemsley, the co-founder of Crumbl Cookies came out as gay after TikToker Grant Gibbs posted videos talking about Hemsley, saying “I quite literally have never seen a gayer man.” In a follow-up video, he suggested that Hemsley was hiding his sexuality to protect his image and business, writing that he was “literally a co-founder of manny companies and [Gibbs] think[s] he can survive.” Hemsley grew up in the Mormon church and posted on Instagram that he has come to accept that he is gay over the past several years. Gibbs posted another TikTok apologizing to Hemsley about the way the situation unfolded (including the iconic statement “I’m genuinely sorry I clocked your tea”) though he also referenced Hemsley’s wealth, saying “I think you’ll be fine, girl.”

37. Ben Platt Sings Diet Pepsi: At the Las Culturistas Culture Awards, actor and singer Ben Platt made history when he sang Addison Rae’s single “Diet Pepsi.” The August 5 performance came about because of the hosts of the Las Culturistas podcast, comedians Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers. In the moment, his earnest and emotional performance was initially not taken seriously, but as he continued to belt his heart out, it resonated. The song was subsequently released on streaming, and as of writing, has over eight million plays. 

36. 2025 Broadway Recap: Hamilton is officially 10 years old, celebrating its anniversary with a theatrical musical release as well as a variety of events throughout the summer. We could go see BOOP! in the summer, but unfortunately, the show closed before finding its footing. Sunset Boulevard also closed, though not before delivering a final round of iconic moments thanks to the street-strutting Soda Scout Tom Francis and the controversial Tony-winning Nicole Scherzinger. (And many still think Audra should have won.) 

More controversy surrounded Broadway this year as Producer Scott Rudin re-emerged. Rudin left Broadway in 2021 following workplace abuse allegations and returned to produce Little Bear Ride Road, which closed eight weeks early.  Kristen Chenoweth got a little bit of pushback as well following her comments surrounding Charlie Kirk’s death, alongside mixed reactions to her performance in The Queen of Versailles.

On the brighter side, Cole Escola won the Tony for Best Actor for their captivating performance as the titular character in Oh, Mary! and Death Becomes Her dominated our feeds as the endlessly looped “That. Was. Rude” audio went viral.

35. Epic Universe: Epic Universe, the new park of Universal Orlando Resort, opened on May 22nd. It contains five lands: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Dark Universe, and Celestial Park. The previews and early days of the park’s opening brought excitement and memes following the introduction of characters like Ygor and the Invisible Man in Dark Universe and the nearly perfect casting of Hiccup, Astrid, Tuffnut, and Ruffnut character actors in Isle of Berk. Ygor is a diva and will always be famous. Praises were sung for Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment and Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry. The Night Light dragons stole the show as they roamed through Isle of Berk. The Mac & Cheese Cones of Isle of Berk went viral, and who knew that the Pizza Lunare would be such a big thing? Pizza becoming famous? Anything is possible! The park is visually stunning, and its opening ceremonies were no less with celebrities like Danny Elfman (who scored for Dark Universe!) and James and Oliver Phelps in attendance. 

34. A Big Year for Horror : 2025 was a huge year for horror, exemplified by movie releases Sinners and Weapons. Both of which’s success can likely be attributed to the fact that they have turned the horror genre into something more than what viewers are used to. Sinners was off-the-beaten-path in many ways, showcasing the racial tensions and power of music of the 1930s. The vampire aspect of the plot feels almost secondary to the compelling storyline and characters. Weapons, despite being more classically horror with it’s creepy scenes and jumpscares, also had an interesting plot that touched on a lot of common fears, especially those of parents, and the acting was insanely fun to watch. Both movies present a different way of doing horror that resonated with a lot of viewers, so it will be exciting to see what 2026 and 2027 bring to the genre!

33. The Pitt: Moving right along with the TV show theme, The Pitt somehow came out of nowhere and convinced everyone that it was the epitome of television. With its moody lighting, intense monologues, and characters who take their jobs very seriously, the show turned everyday workplace tension into a must-watch. Every episode felt like it was one bad decision away from disaster, which is precisely what made it so addictive. Of course, social media did what it does best, latching onto characters and their questionable leadership choices. We all were tricked into believing we were medical experts; it felt like Grey’s Anatomy all over again. The Pitt wasn’t prestige television in the traditional sense, but it didn’t need to be. It understood the assignment: drama, vibes, and just enough chaos to keep everyone hooked without driving them away.

32. Diddy’s Trial: Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial marked one of the most sobering cultural moments of the year, forcing a reckoning with power, celebrity, and accountability in the music industry. As testimony and allegations came to light regarding human trafficking charges, the proceedings shifted the public conversation away from legacy and influence toward harm, coercion, and the systems that allow abuse to persist unchecked. The trial also prompted broader reflection on how long certain behaviors are tolerated when attached to wealth and cultural clout. Artists, fans, and industry insiders alike grappled with separating the music from the artist, while survivors’ voices took overdue center stage. More than just a celebrity case, the Combs trial became a cultural inflection point, underscoring that fame is no longer a shield and that accountability, however delayed, still matters. Despite Combs being found not guilty on many of the charges, his 50-month sentence sends a message about the importance of holding public figures accountable for their actions.

31. Olivia Dean: Although singer-songwriter Olivia Dean’s song “Dive” has been popular since its release two years ago, 2025 was the year that launched her into mainstream success. The artist’s jazzy-pop vocals and deeper singing voice turned instantly recognizable overnight after she opened for Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet Tour during its North American leg. Dean released her sophomore album, The Art Of Loving this year, with the songs “Man I Need” and “So Easy (To Fall In Love)” gaining widespread popularity. I’m personally excited to witness the evolution of her sound!

30. Heated Rivalry: The only reason this isn’t higher up is because it was at the tail end of the year, but Heated Rivalry, an HBO Max series, took the world by storm. The gay hockey show started off as little more than steamy sex, but as episodes came out week by week, it turned into a simultaneously heart-warming and gut-wrenching love story. Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov have become household names, and the NHL has not been shy about using the show’s traction to gain notoriety and broaden their audience. From the music to the story to the dialogue to Hudson Williams puppy eyes to Connor Storrie (fully Texan) learning Russian solely for this role and proceeding to do a five-minute monologue in Russian on screen, the show is special, for sure. Critics agree, with episode five of the short six-episode season tying with Breaking Bad for the highest-rated episode of television of all time. Season two has already been greenlit.

29. Severance Season 2: The highly anticipated second season of Severance did not disappoint. Season one was weird and unnerving, yet incredibly intriguing, leaving viewers wanting more. After years hanging off a cliff with unanswered questions, we finally got the answers, kind of. Most of the season was true to Severance’s brand: incredibly odd where you never quite knew what was going on. The story gained clarity as the season went on, culminating in an absolutely insane season finale. We mean screaming at the tv, laughing, crying, throwing up level insane. Given that there were three years between seasons one and two, who knows when season three will come out…

28. Stranger Things Season 5: Stranger Things season 5 showed up with one clear mission: emotional damage, but make it fun. The final season leaned all the way into nostalgia, cranking the callbacks up to eleven and reuniting the Hawkins crew for one last, extremely stressful group project. Fans were glued to their screens, alternating between crying, cheering, and yelling “WHY would you do that?” at perfectly innocent televisions. The characters (now very much adults pretending to still be teens) got their full-circle moments, the monsters were bigger and grosser than ever, and the soundtrack once again bullied its way onto everyone’s playlists. Releasing it in 3 parts kept everyone on the edge of their seats through finals season, until the finale finally dropped and made for a great Christmas present.

27. 2025 Grammys Recap: The Grammys awarding Chappell Roan Best New Artist was a triumph, to be honest. It brought her from a cult favorite into a new sphere of pop stardom. Her theatrical, funky, authentic attitude made her stand out from the rest of the nominees. It was the perfect way to cap off a year of maximalist pop dramatics, face paint, and Midwest Princess energy, while her performance leaned into everything that she has become known for. Beyonce finally taking home Album of the Year was historic and emotional, marking a final victory after years of nearly getting it. Meanwhile, the Best New Artist performances turned into a buffet of talent, if not slightly unhinged. Benson Boone treated the stage like a gymnastics floor, backflipping his way into making it his personal brand. 

26. White Lotus: The most recent season of The White Lotus proved that Mike White still has an iron-clad grip on rich-people-in-paradise chaos. Set against a lush, spiritually charged Thai backdrop, the season leaned hard into themes of privilege, tourism, and the emptiness of “self-discovery,” all while serving up the show’s signature mix of slow-burn tension and exquisitely uncomfortable dinner conversations that make you wonder why all these people wanted to go on vacation together in the first place. As always, the characters were morally questionable couples, quietly unhinged heirs, and staff members who saw everything and said nothing-until they did. Everyone on social media was on the edge of their seats as they live-Tweeted every episode. By the finale, The White Lotus once again delivered what it does best: beautiful scenery, terrible people, and a reminder that no amount of luxury can save you from yourself.

25. Freaky-Ass Movies Are In: What is a freaky-ass movie you may ask? Let’s just say, it’s gross, weird, horny, and we can’t look away. The year started off strong with Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu, yes, the remake of the original Nosferatu film, which is basically a rip off of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. If you didn’t see it, Nosferatu is a gothic horror that features Lily Rose Depp in a love triangle(?) with her husband and a literal vampire devil who possesses her. I mean, between the contortions and vampire sex, this really set the tone. Then we had Babygirl, the A24 drama starring Nicole Kidman as a CEO that hooks up with her much younger intern, Harris Dickinson. This one I liked much less than Nosferatu, but it was undoubtedly freaky. Finally, Guillermo Del Toro, who is unashamedly a master of freaky movies (remember the Shape of Water?) directed his own version of Frankenstein, which was actually very good! It was admittedly less freaky than anticipated, but nonetheless a beautiful period piece that features a romantic plot between a human and the Creature (who is literally Jacob Elordi, enough said). The year is over, but don’t worry, there’s more to come. Emerald Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights” comes out this Feburary, and regardless of the intense criticism ahead of its release, I am so sat. I mean there’s truly so much to hate already, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious, I mean come on, the trailer is already freaky as can be. Also, it’s soundtrack is by Charli xcx, just saying.

24. Performative Man Epidemic: The performative man is the female gaze taken to its logical conclusion. Matcha-drinking, tote bag-carrying, feminist literature-reading, Converse-wearing men are what men think women want, flipping the whole idea of the female gaze on its head. This concept-turned cultural phenomenon resulted in big city performative man contests, where all kinds of men would show up wearing the same sage green shirt and jorts with a tote bag from some indie bookstore or coffee shop and wired earbuds to battle it out for the title of most performative man. We appreciate the sentiment, but some things are just too, too much. 

23. Demon Slayer and Chainsaw Man films: The final fight begins for Tanjiro and the rest of the Demon Slayer Corps while the fun has only just begun for Denji and the Public Safety Devil Hunters. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle was certified Hot by Rotten Tomatoes became the highest-grossing Japanese film ever and the highest-grossing international film in North America, making box office history for anime. With stunning visuals and breathtaking fight choreography, the film left fans ecstatic for the next two films. Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc also made great strides in anime success with a Hot Rotten Tomatoes score and by obtaining a spot in the all-time top 15 highest-grossing anime list. Perhaps Demon Slayer and Chainsaw Man will pave the way for future anime successes.

22. Jonathan Bailey’s Great Year: Jonathan Bailey has had one hell of a year. From Jurassic World Rebirth to Wicked: For Good, he is booking bigger and bigger roles. Fellow Travelers had press and hype that spilled over into 2025, highlighting LGBT+ history that hasn’t been talked about much before. Through it all, his “slutty little glasses” sent the internet into a spiral. The universe has collectively agreed that Bailey is incredibly attractive, and PEOPLE magazine seems to agree, naming him the Sexiest Man Alive. Perhaps the best piece of press around this is Bailey on Jimmy Fallon talking about how he drunkenly shared the secret with his friends before it was public. When Fallon asked him if he thinks people will treat him differently because of it, he simply replied “I fucking hope so.” 

21. The Oscars: As they are every year, the Oscars were a sight to behold. Emilia Perez’s victory was puzzling to many with its ambition and unconventionality. Anora absolutely swept, quietly becoming a critical darling that everyone suddenly pretended they’d been rooting for all along. Film Twitter was busy arguing about taste, merit, and whether the Academy actually watched the same movies as the rest of us. Then came The Brutalist and its allegations of AI usage, raising questions about authorship, authenticity, and how much technology is too much technology. Finally, Adrien Brody’s seven-minute acceptance speech for Best Actor had viewers wondering if the orchestra was broken by the end of it.

20. TikTok Ban: Lest we forget about the 24 hours when TikTok was banned in the US. Everyone backed up their saved videos and influencers who relied on the app for their livelihoods were funnelling followers to other social media platforms in an attempt to retain some of their earnings. Gen Z, in particular, mourned the loss of the app and the community that accompanied it, not to get too sappy or anything. It was a cultural moment, even if it was short lived. All the drama ended up not amounting to anything, as access was reinstated the next day as negotiations between the US and China on the sale of the app continued.

19. Sydney Sweeney and American Eagle: Of course, we couldn’t talk about Katseye without talking about Sydney Sweeney modeling for American Eagle jeans. What was supposed to be a simple denim campaign. One of the reasons Katseye got so big was in juxtaposition to American Eagle. In the ad, Sweeney talks about how jeans are passed down from parent to offspring (jeans=genes), and that her jeans are blue, sending the public into heated discourse surrounding the white supremacy-coded undertones of the campaign. Sweeney embodying the blue-eyed, blonde-haired, thin, white epitome of beauty standards did not help. Her image has been adopted by MAGA and the far right and a new makeover was “giving Trump’s next wife.”

18. Katseye for GAP: La la… la la la… “Milkshake” by Kelis resurged in popularity this year, entirely due to an extremely iconic ad for GAP jeans. Katseye, a global girl group made from hit-show, Dream Academy, had an insane year (Lollapalooza, best new artist Grammy nomination, “Gnarly”) but the most notable moment has to be this ad. Especially in contrast with Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle ad, Katseye and GAP won hearts for making an ad that was fun, inclusive, and made us all want to learn the choreography and go buy jeans! 

17. JD Vance: JD Vance is living proof that you can simultaneously be the most relevant and irrelevant person ever. I can count the number of policy-related news stories I’ve read about Vance on one hand with fingers to spare. On the other hand, his couch reference from Hillbilly Elegy will never be forgotten. Amid all the AI-generated slop, I think I’ve forgotten what his face actually looks like. 

16. The Epstein Files: The Epstein files resurfacing in the last few months was some serious déjà vu. The internet is weird with them, given that they’re so serious. Horror, exhaustion, and dark humor are three words that come to mind when I picture the public reaction to some of the photos and information that have come out recently. The overwhelming sentiment was less shock and more why is this still happening, and why does it involve the same people every time. Naturally, Trump and Bill Clinton became unavoidable characters, with the public posting side-by-side screenshots, sarcastic timelines, and jokes about whose PR teams were working overtime. Trump alternated between denial and distraction, while Clinton’s name prompted a collective “this guy, AGAIN?!” Even though the email about Trump and “Bubba” ended up not referring to Clinton, the two are so tied up in this whole mess, it hardly exonerates them. The story refuses to stay buried. Nothing about Epstein is funny, but its uncomfortability makes humor an awkward coping mechanism and the whole situation impossible to ignore.

15. TV Censorship: TV censorship became an unexpectedly serious recurring theme of 2025, raising questions of who get to speak and what they get to say on television. The cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert landed as a shock, especially given its long-standing role as a space for political satire. Not long after, Paramount’s decision to pull a South Park episode critiquing political and corporate power intensified concerns that network interests were beginning to outweigh creative independence. Late-night has long felt untouchable, but Jimmy Kimmel’s brief cancellation and reinstatement showed how precarious TV political satire has become. 

14. Dancing With the Stars and Robert Irwin: Robert Irwin’s stint on Dancing With the Stars was one of those moments that felt engineered by the internet gods. Watching the beloved wildlife prince trade khakis and crocodiles for sequins and samba steps instantly won over audiences, spawning endless clips of him smiling earnestly through routines that were far better than anyone expected. The contrast alone (Steve Irwin’s son, ballroom dancing) was enough to carry a thousand tweets. What really sealed it was the sheer wholesomeness of it all. Judges gushed, viewers swooned, and Robert somehow made DWTS feel culturally relevant again, reminding everyone that sincerity, enthusiasm, and a little bit of chaos can still steal the spotlight.

13. Louvre Heist: It has been far too long since we had a good old-fashioned heist. The Louvre heist felt less like a crime story and more like a cinematic internet event. As details trickled out, timelines filled with theories, memes, and, most memorably, fake mugshots that looked ripped straight from a HBO limited series. The mugshots in particular were giving Luigi Mangione, part 2. That is, until we were all tragically disappointed by their falsity. People weren’t just asking how it happened, but how it could happen at the literal Louvre, a place we all collectively assumed was protected by vibes and history alone. The absurdity of it all, the elegance of the setting, the chaos of the coverage, and the strangely glamorous fake visuals, turned the heist into instant pop culture lore. For a brief moment, art history, true crime, and Twitter imagination collided.

12. Donald Trump and Elon Musk: Trump and Elon Musk spent this year orbiting each other. Their interactions, whether through offhand praise, sudden shade, or mutually assured posting, were chaotic, deeply unserious, and endlessly entertaining. Elon’s flirtation with Trump-world energy collided with Trump’s fondness for anyone rich, loud, and willing to compliment him, creating a dynamic that felt part bromance and part cold war.

Enter DOGE: what started as an internet joke somehow became a shared language between them, with Musk leaning into meme governance and Trump embracing the spectacle of it all. The idea that serious power could coexist with Shiba Inu imagery perfectly captured the vibes: policy-adjacent, irony-soaked, and just confusing enough to dominate timelines. Yet, the implications were serious–research budgets were slashed, thousands were laid off or fired, and many wondered how far Trump and Musk would go in the name of “efficiency.”

Ultimately, their relationship was less about ideology and more about aesthetics: two men addicted to attention, ping-ponging between admiration and annoyance, accidentally reminding everyone that modern politics is as much performance art as it is governance.

11. James Gunn’s Superman Movie: In my humble opinion, the new Superman movie was nothing short of SPECTACULAR. Beyond the thrill of seeing Superman’s cape soar again (cue audiences cheering in theaters) and Krypto, the dog who stole all of our hearts, Superman served as an allegory to the ongoing war in Gaza, attracting commentary from both sides. Some called the new film necessary and inspiring, while others, including former Superman Dean Cain, were upset that the franchise and character had been made “woke” beyond reason. Despite clashes between critics and fans, Superman (and Clark Kent) and Lois Lane were popular Halloween costumes, as was Krypto as a pet costume. I don’t care what your views are, the movie had a good cast, a GREAT soundtrack, and was a fun watch. Whether you went for nostalgia, discourse, or just a genuinely good blockbuster, this one stuck the landing in more ways than one. 

10. Taylor Swift: Once again, Taylor Swift has had a chart-topping, record-setting year. She started the year off pretty strong by using her Eras Tour earnings to buy back all of her master recordings—yes, the ones that sparked her rerecordings—in an unprecedented, $360 million deal with Shamrock Holdings, the private equity firm that bought her first six albums’ rights from Scooter Braun’s company in 2020. Now she owns the masters, music videos, artwork, concert footage, and unreleased tracks for her first six albums (Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989, and Reputation). She then stayed pretty quiet until August when she joined her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, and his brother, Jason Kelce, on their podcast, New Heights, to announce her 12th album, The Life of a Showgirl. Her sole appearance on this podcast set a Guinness World Record for the most concurrent views for a podcast on YouTube, hitting 1.3 million simultaneous live viewers. If that wasn’t enough action for August, it turns out right after the recording of the podcast episode, Travis proposed to Taylor! That’s right, Taylor Swift is actually engaged (and reportedly set to be married June 13, 2026). 

In October, she released The Life of a Showgirl, which was admittedly a pretty divisive album (has she ever had a non-divisive album, though?). Regardless of the criticism, it has been her biggest album yet, setting records as usual! It was the biggest debut ever on the Billboard 200 with over 4 million units sold, and dominated the Billboard Hot 100 as all 12 tracks charted simultaneously. Swift now holds the title of the most #1 albums for a solo artist (15), and “The Fate of Ophelia” became the most-streamed song in a single day on Spotify (30M+ streams) and the fastest ever to reach 100M streams. There’s also apparently a little pop-culture drama; one of the tracks on the album, “Actually Romatic,” seems to be about another pop favorite, Charli XCX, who had one of the biggest pop culture moments last year with brat. Many noticed that Charli’s song, “Sympathy is a knife,” seems to be about Taylor, and using it as evidence that “Actually Romantic” is a response to it. Obviously, the fan wars got crazy, but I’ll keep my commentary to myself. 

Finally, Taylor ended her crazy year by releasing an Eras Tour movie that includes the new Tortured Poets Department section, as well as a six-episode documentary on the Eras Tour. The documentary, in my opinion, is a must-watch for anyone who loves music and concerts. It was so cool to see the (honestly insane) behind-the-scenes of the record-breaking tour and get to know Taylor’s team, like her crew, her choreographers, her backup singers, etc., a little bit better!

9. Wicked Press Tour: Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo were once again wrapped up in each other’s fingers this year as the press tour for Wicked 2 commenced. On screen, we watched Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) navigate a love triangle with Fiyero (Jonathan Bailey); off-screen, the real storyline was the two leads clinging to each other through every interview, premiere, and red-carpet appearance, as if separation was simply not an option. Hugging, crying, whispering, finishing each other’s sentences, we were reminded that they truly are just theatre kids (and do they know it’s legal?)

Beyond whatever is happening with those two, Michelle Yeoh also gifted us with new knowledge. Compilations of her deadpan delivery reminded the internet that “Madam Morrible” can, in fact, be flipped around to mean “Wicked Witch,” a realization that rewired everyone’s brain on contact. I find myself quoting “MM flip it around, Wicked Wiiiitch” more than I should.

8. Astronomer CEO Cheats at a Coldplay Concert: At Coldplay’s concert in late July a couple was captured embracing and swaying to the music on the “kiss cam.” Both immediately hid their faces and ducked down, leading the entire internet to speculate about their affair. It was soon revealed that the couple was Andy Byron, CEO of Astronomer, and Kristin Cabot, his HR executive, and both were married. In the social media storm that followed, Byron resigned from his position at Astronomer and Cabot faced extreme public shaming. Recently Cabot has stated that she “made a bad decision and had a couple of High Noons and dances and acted inappropriately with my boss.”

7. Kendrick Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show: Kendrick Lamar, who won several 2025 Grammy awards for the iconic 2024 Drake diss track, “Not Like Us,” also did the halftime show at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. It was pretty amazing. Kendrick had SZA join as a special guest to sing “All The Stars,” dissed Drake on one of the biggest live television events of the year, and brought out tennis legend Serena Williams to dance during “Not Like Us.”

The performance was also super political. Actor Samuel L. Jackson opened the show dressed as Uncle Sam, serving as a personification of the United States government and later, in one of the most iconic moments, Kendrick said “The revolution ‘bout to be televised. You picked the right time but the wrong guy,” signaling that the entire performance was a moment of protest against President Donald Trump, yes, on live TV. It was definitely one of the best halftime shows I’ve seen in a while and I’m extremely excited to see 2026’s pick, Bad Bunny. 

6. Love Island Season 7: After the enormous success of Love Island USA’s season 6, many fans eagerly tuned into this season, expecting great things. However, season 7 was… a bit of a mess. Not one but two islanders were removed from the villa after videos of them using racial slurs came to light (has the Love Island team ever heard of background checks??). Nonetheless, Season 7 introduced a brand new cast including the fan-favorite ‘Amaya Papaya’, the crackship turned real couple Nicolandria, and the infamous crashout Huda. While the season produced some hilarious one-liners such as Nic’s “mamacita,” overall the vibes were off and while entertainment value was high, actual love was low (to my knowledge, only one couple from the final four are still together, and Huda and Chris even broke up before the finale could take place). The winners of Love Island, Amaya and Bryan broke up mere weeks after the finale (but nobody was surprised) and other couples such as Chelley and Ace and Iris and Pepe did not last long either. Despite the mess that the show was, it did produce many viral and memeworthy moments such as Taylor’s “I pick Clarke,” the singer at Huda and Chris’ ill-fated date, Hannah sobbing over Charlie’s photos, Ace’s height, and Austin being a freak. 

5. The Summer I Turned Pretty: The Summer Everyone Turned Team Conrad pulled the internet under its waves (sorry, we’re trying to make a beach pun). Whether you set alarms for 3 am EST every Wednesday or you waited until nighttime to watch with friends, week after week, you tuned in to watch Belly (Lola Tung) make one catastrophically bad decision after another. From making fun of the tiniest ring given to her trust-fund-baby fiancé, to the heartbreaking beach confession, to flying off to Paris (which we all agreed was good for her), we watched Belly spiral, recover, and eventually choose Conrad–who seemed to be the only one who could do anything wrong (lest we forget Belly’s fiancée LITERALLY CHEATED ON HER). It’s also worth saying that Belly is still just a young girl carrying a lot of grief and expectation. While it’s easy to flatten her choices into a “she is horrible” situation, she’s really just trying to figure out who she is and how to move forward in the only way she knows how. 
The tension between frustration and empathy didn’t stay contained to the screen, however. The Summer I Turned Pretty seeped into our cultural zeitgeist, with everyone and everything from Spotify and the New York Jets to Malala Yousafzai and Olivia Rodrigo proclaiming their love for Conrad (Christopher Briney). And while we are, technically, a news publication, Bwog can’t pretend to be neutral here. We’re Team Conrad.

4. Labubu: You can run, but you can’t hide from these bunny-eared, sharp-fanged critters whose tall, oval eyes hint at voids of unspeakable pain. What is it about the labubu that sparks both terror and adoration, a fever of trembling desire that spurred a human soul to spend over 170 thousand dollars on a life-sized one? My aunt suggested to me that a labubu’s combination of ugly and adorable tickles the nostalgia of 80s kids like her, who grew up collecting similar figurines like trolls. Another is the gambling-like thrill that comes from purchasing labubus in blind boxes and not knowing what type of labubu waits inside. Yet another possibility is the sheer panic induced by those incisive eyes. Either way, labubus rocked the world in 2025, haunting the internet and homes across the world with their beguiling grins. 

3. Ameripope: After the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, April 21, cardinals of the Catholic Church gathered for a conclave to elect a new pope. The Vatican declared Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost, the new leader of the church on May 8. Pope Leo is the first American pope, a native of Chicago, Illinois, clearly a source of pride as he dons his White Sox hat and accepts gifts of his favorite pizza, as well as a 1977 graduate of Villanova University. He is a citizen of Peru and the United States, the former of which he spent the majority of his career in. He is also the first Augustinian pope. This historic moment was met with much surprise, with Pope Leo being dubbed “Ameripope.” Posts on X expressed a range of emotions, from pride to shock. 

2. KPop Demon Hunters: We’re going up, up UP! KPop Demon Hunters (KPDH) was anticipated with mixed feelings at first, since many people thought, “KPop and demon hunters? What do they have to do with each other?” Logically, the answer is nothing. The movie, however, proved us all wrong. It became the most watched content in Netflix history, recently hitting 500 million views. The soundtrack and individual songs, particularly “Golden,” topped music charts including the Billboard for months, and people all around the globe started singing the songs, practicing the dances, and making exquisite cosplays and fanart. Derpy’s obsession with a knocked over plant and Sussie’s suss eyes took the world by storm. HUNTR/X and the Saja Boys sent people into a spiral with their hits including “Golden” and “Your Idol.” “Hunter’s Mantra” and “Jinu’s Lament” were way too short and deserved to be full-length songs. 

The KPDH fandom proved the success of the film, including some fans starting theories on the film and rewatching it tens of times, as a sequel is scheduled to release in 2029. Tons of products have been released, including Mattel HUNTR/X dolls that sold out during preorders, Funko Pops, and Nongshim noodles and shrimp chips. Additionally, while HUNTR/X may be a fictional KPop girl group, the singers behind the characters are trained in the industry. EJAE, REI AMI, and Audrey Nuna voice Rumi, Zoey, and Mira, respectively. EJAE served as the principal songwriter for the film. Since the breakout success of KPDH, the trio has gone on to perform live on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, iHeartRadio Jingle Ball, and A Year in TIME. They are confirmed to perform at New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. Each time, they have performed the hit “Golden,” which became certified Double Platinum along with several other songs and the entire album that have also hit Platinum. Kevin Woo, the singing voice for Mystery Saja, has also been active in keeping the KPDH hype up by performing “Soda Pop” at several events, including the pre-show for iHeartRadio Jingle Ball and A Year in TIME. KPDH was recently named TIME’s 2025 Breakthrough of the Year. The future looks bright, or should I say GOLDEN, for KPDH!

1. Zohran Mamdani: Perhaps the biggest news and pop culture moment in New York City this year… the underdog turned fan favorite caused a huge upset, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, and longtime politician Curtis Sliwa to be the next mayor of New York City. From fast and free buses to freezing the rent, his policies take a sharp turn away from those of traditional moderate democrats. A Morningside Heights native, Mamdani’s father is a professor at Columbia and his mother is a filmmaker, known best for her work on The Namesake. His wife, Syrian artist Rama Duwaji, and his wedding photos went viral (and rightfully so, they are GORGEOUS). They had their first date at a Qahwah House, he loves Koronet Pizza, and mourned the loss of Absolute Bagels alongside the rest of us. 

Mamdani had a number of *special* moments this year. Honorable mentions include the discovery of his former rap career. Mamdani (stage name Young Cardamom) has a number of music videos out including one featuring Lupita Nyong’o for his mother’s film “Queen of Katwe.” His addition of jalapenos to a very boring egg and cheese on a roll that all the candidates would order from a bodega and admission of having smoked weed during a televised debate were standouts from his campaign. 

Whether you loved him or hated him, you’re from New York or Idaho or Alaska, chances are you know his name. He was the topic of conversation around many Thanksgiving tables, a current fixture of our lives over the last year, the reason for many of us changing our voter registration to New York. Alongside the antics of the election (Curtis Sliwa and his red barret/bringing up the time he was shot in the back of a cab and Andrew Cuomo dodging questions about his fall from grace as New York Governor and the allegations against him), Zohran Mamdani was nothing short of a phenomenon. And THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is why he is our #1 PCM of 2025.

Header via Bwog Staff