December is here, and with that comes the bittersweet feeling of another year coming to its end.
As 2025 comes to a close, it’s important to reflect on the most significant, impactful and relevant pop culture moments of the year. From “6-7” to “Stranger Things” and everything in between, here’s an A-Z list of the most noteworthy moments of 2025.
100 men vs. one gorilla
This thought experiment took the internet by storm in May. Originally posted on a Reddit thread in 2020, it resurfaced on social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok, asking the question of who would win in a fight, 100 men or one silverback gorilla.
6-7
6-7 is a viral internet meme and slang term that emerged on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram reels early this year. The phrase originated from rapper Skrilla’s song “Doot Doot (6 7)” and was popularized when users posted video edits of basketball players to the song, particularly LaMelo Ball, who is 6’7”.
The meme further evolved after a video went viral of a boy yelling “6-7” at a basketball game and making the now-iconic hand gesture.
It has become so widespread that the two numbers have become synonymous with “brain rot” as a whole.
Coldplay Kiss Cam scandal
On July 21, at a Coldplay show at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, a couple caught on the Kiss Cam had an interesting reaction. Initially embracing, the woman covered her face while the man ducked out of shot, prompting Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin to say, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”
Within 24 hours, it was revealed that they were, in fact, having an affair. Internet sleuths found out that the man was Andy Byron and the woman was Kristin Cabot. Byron was Cabot’s boss and the CEO of tech company Astronomer. Both were also married with children, and within just a few days, both would resign. See the original clip here.
Dubai chocolate
This salty-sweet creation, made from a chocolate bar stuffed with pistachio cream and kataifi, gained popularity worldwide in 2024, and that trend continued into this year. Several big names, including Lindt and Hershey’s, have created their own versions. Dubai chocolate has also been heavily marketed by many celebrities, including big names like Rihanna, Kim Kardashian and Will Smith.
“It’s not clocking to you that I’m standing on business.”
This is a reference to the viral clip of the famous singer Justin Bieber yelling at paparazzi on June 13. Watch the clip here.
JD Vance meme
Poorly photoshopped pictures of Vice President JD Vance swirled around social media platforms this year. They became so widespread that people from other countries started sharing them.
The meme caused controversy when a Norwegian tourist claimed to be forcibly denied entry into the U.S. and deported after ICE authorities found one of the photos on his phone. U.S. Customs and Border Protection did not respond to this claim.
Jet2 holiday
The voiceover from a Jet2 ad went viral this summer. The intro, “Nothing beats a Jet2 holiday,” would often be played over clips of vacation disasters (or disasters in general) to create a funny, ironic effect.
Katy Perry
Katy Perry had two major moments in 2025. The first was her 11-minute-long trip to space on April 14 aboard Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin rocket, which stirred up controversy due to the large amounts of CO2 that the rocket created.
The second major moment was her divorce with ex-husband Orlando Bloom and new relationship with the former Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau.
Kendrick Lamar’s NFL halftime show
Rapper and singer Kendrick Lamar led this year’s Super Bowl halftime show, along with guest appearances from many big names, including SZA and Samuel L. Jackson. The latter starred as Uncle Sam, making many satirical comments and actions to highlight the current cultural divide in America. The performance received both critical acclaim and backlash.
KPop Demon Hunters
Released on Netflix on June 20, “KPop Demon Hunters” absolutely blew up, becoming the most-watched original title in Netflix history, and received nominations for several Grammys, Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice awards.
Labubus
These furry, collectible “monster-like” plush toys have now become synonymous with consumerism, “brain rot” and “performative males.” Created by Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung, these toys caused a frenzy this summer.
Louvre heist
On Oct. 19, thieves dressed as construction workers stole eight pieces of the French Crown Jewels, valued at over $102 million. The heist became extremely popular on the Internet, though not in the way many would expect. Users turned the heist into a TikTok meme, making jokes and edits. While the French police have since made several arrests, the jewels have not yet been recovered.
MLB 2025 World Series
Lasting from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1, the World Series ended with the Los Angeles Dodgers beating the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games. Read more about it here.
Oasis reunion tour
British legends Noel and Liam Gallagher of Oasis reunited this year for the first time since the band’s split in 2009, playing 41 shows across five different continents.
Ozzy Osbourne dies
On July 22, heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne passed away at the age of 76. Osbourne, the frontman of Black Sabbath and a strong solo artist as well, was known for crazy antics on stage, including biting the head off a real bat. His influence has spanned almost every genre of heavy music, impacting prominent artists like Metallica, Alice in Chains and Smashing Pumpkins.
SNL50
February saw the 50th-anniversary celebration of “Saturday Night Live,” with musical performances, special guests and the return of many famous cast members. Read more about it here.
Stranger Things 5
At long last, the fifth and final season of the hit series “Stranger Things” is out. Volume One released on Nov. 26, Vol. 2 on Dec. 25 and the finale episode is out on Dec. 31. “Stranger Things” is all over the internet, with debates about the show, whether it’s who will die in the finale or who the best character of the full series is. Read more about it here.
Superman
On July 11, DC Studios released “Superman,” the most recent adaptation of the beloved superhero story. Starring David Corenswet, the movie grossed over $615 million worldwide. While some people were not a fan, others loved it.
Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle jeans commercial
This summer, American Eagle released a series of jean ads, partnering with actress Sydney Sweeney. While intended to raise awareness for domestic violence, the ads sparked a lot of controversy, specifically one in particular that seems to promote eugenics — a set of largely discredited beliefs aiming to improve the genetic quality of a population. Watch the ad here.
Taylor Swift’s big events
On May 30, via a post on Instagram, Taylor Swift announced that she had officially bought back the rights to her first six albums. On Aug. 26, via a post on Instagram, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement. On Oct. 3, Taylor Swift released her thirteenth studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl.” Read more about it here.
TikTok ban
On Jan. 19, social media platform TikTok was unavailable to U.S. users for 12 hours. Read more about it here.
Wicked 2
Released on Nov. 21, Wicked: For Good, also known as Wicked 2, took the internet by storm, both from the actual movie and the drama surrounding the release. Many news outlets have pointed out the obvious, dramatic weight loss from almost every cast member, prompting fans to wonder what has been going on behind the scenes. Also, lead actresses Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande have often been seen being very physical and emotional with one another, raising questions.
It’s hard to believe that all of these things happened just this year, and how many more were surely left out of this list. Cheers to 2026!
