2024 has been a year.
It’s been a year of trials and tribulations, from the election to the corrupt leadership around the world. While it may be easy to dwell on our sorrows, we should take time to reflect on the moments that brought us joy, and even a little escape throughout those dark times.
Sabrina Carpenter’s Internet Takeover
Sabrina Carpenter was inescapable this year. You couldn’t open Tiktok, turn on the radio (if you still do that) or go anywhere without her sultry voice making an appearance. After the release of her smash hit, “Espresso,” the singer continued to capitalize on its success. She sang the song for the first time at her Coachella debut, giving a taste for her soon-to-be sold-out world tour, “Short n’ Sweet.”
Carpenter did various pop-ups in major cities all over the world, serving on-brand coffee and merch. Her espresso puns didn’t stop there, she collaborated with Van Leeuwen releasing her own ice cream flavor. She later went on to release her sixth studio album, “Short n’ Sweet” which snagged the No.1 spot on the Billboard 200 for three weeks, with all tracks entering the top 50.
The “Please, Please, Please” singer couldn’t close out the year without another viral moment, celebrating the season with her Netflix holiday special “A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter.” Needless to say, 2025 might be another big year for her.
Our “Brat” Summer
Another singer who left their mark this summer was Charli XCX, with brat summer. The “Boom Clap” singer released the album, “Brat” in June. Hit songs like “360,” “Von Dutch” and “Apple,” infiltrated TikTok, creating a viral dance that became a key part of her US Tour, “Sweat.” She was accompanied by longtime collaborator and friend Troye Sivan, who had a major year after the release of his third studio album, “Something to Give Each Other.”
@kelley.heyer Been meaning to make this edit for awhile! 🫶🍏 #apple #brat
♬ Apple - Charli xcx
Internet users took a liking to the simplicity of the lime green artwork for the album, reworking the words to say personalized characteristics, like “hot” or “emo.” The influence of this marketing choice climbed its way up to corporate America with major brands, like Duolingo, applauding the choice and using its tactics. Vice President Kamala Harris branded her “kamala hq” campaign with the BRAT aesthetic.
“Love Island: USA’s” hot summer
“Love Island: USA” season six, hosted by Ariana Maddox, left us enticed with the love lives of complete strangers. There was drama, laughter and tears that left us glued to our screens anticipating episode after episode. The show ranked No. 1 for reality series in America., gaining twice as many viewers as last year and debunking the notion that the UK version is better.
“PPG” proved the old adage about unsuccessful friendship trios wrong. Fan favorites Serena Paige, Leah Kateb and Jana Craig stole the hearts of the world with their sister-like bond and iconic moments. Viewers took to social media to share their thoughts on events like Paige’s dock scene, Craig’s staple “Kennyyyy” calling and Kateb’s breakup with Rob Rausch.
A reunion followed the show, hoping to spill the tea on all the burning questions fans desperately wanted answered. Although many were unsatisfied with the event’s outcome, the status of “PPG” and “PPGM’s” relationships left fans content. Craig and Kenny Rodriguez, Kateb and Miguel Harichi, and Paige and Kordell Beckham became breakout stars booking collaborations with major brands like Dunkin and Lyft.
“Good Luck, Chappell”
Chappell Roan was a name that was on everyone’s lips this year. Roan has steadily made her way into the limelight, opening for Olivia Rodrigo’s “GUTS” tour. But her passionate performance of her hit “Good Luck, Babe!’ at Coachella, left the world intrigued with her path to stardom. Often seen in face paint makeup and creative costumes, Roan stood out from her peers in the industry.
Her fresh vibe wasn’t the only thing that made her stand out. She received a lot of attention after taking to the Internet stating “I don’t give a f*** if you think it’s selfish of me to say no for a photo, or for your time, or a hug. That’s not normal, that’s weird. I don’t care that abuse and harassment, stalking or whatever is a normal thing to do to people who are famous.” Many fans disapproved of her stance, stating their excitement to see her comes from a good place, while others applauded her setting boundaries.
The “Hot To Go” singer spent most of her year on the road performing at festivals and on her “The Midwest Princess” tour. Her debut album was nominated for six Grammys. She also joined Carpenter for a duet during her Christmas special after Carpenter’s viral cover of “Good Luck, Babe.” It’s safe to say, this is just the beginning of Roan’s stardom.
Nicholas Chavez: The “white” boy of the century
A widely spread edit lived on everyone’s For You pages this fall. Nicholas Chavez’s good looks and ripped body were accompanied by the catchy tune, “Shake Dat A**” (Twerk Song). The addictive edit amassed nearly 70 million views with 6.5 million likes, causing a ripple effect of similar edits and a budding fanbase for the actor.
Chavez starred in “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” which gained major success being the number one show on Netflix during its debut. Chavez’s journey to fame has been rocky, with internet users trying to cancel him on numerous occasions. After a deep dive into his acting history, fans became enamored with his relationship with his “General Hospital” co-star Tabyana Ali. Many speculated they had a relationship beyond their friendship, blaming him for the conclusion of it.
His relationship with his girlfriend became a topic of discussion after a controversial interaction with his co-star Chole Sevigny and other encounters. Nonetheless, Chavez has continued to be booked and busy, starring in “Grotesquerie” and the upcoming reboot of “I Know What You Did Last Summer.”
Celebrity Doppelgangers
“(Blank) look-alike contest in my bedroom” has been a constant internet phenomenon after an in-person success. Timothée Chalamet was the first celebrity to undergo the trend. Posters titled “Timothée Chalamet Lookalike Competition” were placed all over New York City, claiming a $50 cash prize.
Dozens of lookalikes filled the Washington Square Park arch, accompanied by hundreds of bystanders anticipating the winner. Chalamet surprised attendees by making a brief appearance. Fans of celebrities like Zendaya, Jung-Kook, and Paul Mescal followed by having contests of their own (Mescal also made an appearance).
“Wicked” is more than “Popular”
This year has held space for niche humor. The blockbuster film “Wicked,” produced numerous memes of the two leads, Cynthia Ervo and Ariana Grande, during their press run. The most popular was an exchange between a journalist and Ervo, where a conversation about the act of holding space with the lyrics of “Defying Gravity” brought her to tears. The wording of the statement mixed with Ervo’s emotions and Grande’s attempt at consoling her, sent the internet into hysterics.
@soceleb Defying Gravity is holding space! #foryou #fyp #arianagrande #cynthiaerivo #wicked #funny #popculture #celebrity #hollywood #foryoupage
♬ original sound - soceleb
The emotional state of the two actresses was continuously questioned as videos of them crying during numerous interviews filled our timelines. Parodies and compilations were made poking fun at how frequently it happened. The duo joked about their crying saying, “People think we need to go to an asylum. We’re just grateful people and it’s just a lot.” With awards season around the corner, this won’t be the last time we see this dynamic duo in tears or being meme’d.
As 2025 rapidly approaches, the world of entertainment is destined to evolve. What do you think we have in store?