The 20 biggest pop culture moments of 2022 – Yardbarker
There’s no denying it: 2022 was weird. And pop culture kept the excitement coming all year long, with viral TikTok memes and the new Beyonce album to keep us busy amidst all the chaos in the world.
Looking back at 2022, these 20 pop culture moments were the definition of huge. From Will Smith‘s meltdown at the Oscars to the tragic loss of Migos rapper Takeoff, these are the pop culture moments that got people talking this year.
Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling, her directorial followup to 2019’s Booksmart , may have only been a blip on the pop culture radar this year if it weren’t for the drama that swirled around the film. From Wilde’s relationship with star Harry Styles, which has reportedly ended after two years, to alleged spats with Florence Pugh over the duo’s romance, this story dominated the gossip blogs in August and September.
Before accepting the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in the biopic King Richard , Will Smith suddenly rushed on stage and slapped host Chris Rock in the face after he made a rude joke about Smith’s wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith. The “slap heard ’round the world” was a topic of endless debate and earned Smith a 10-year ban from the Oscars.
2022 was definitely the year of Harry Styles. As if the release of his album Harry’s House, his sold-out Love On Tour, and multiple starring roles in films weren’t enough, his whirlwind romance with Olivia Wilde kept the rumor mill running all year long.
Thanks to his relationship with Kim Kardashian after her very public split with Kanye West, Pete Davidson managed to stay in the headlines throughout 2022. The relationship was short-lived — the two called it quits in August — but will live forever in online infamy.
Former Glee star Lea Michele finally found her way into Funny Girl , the iconic musical that originally starred Barbra Streisand in the role of Fanny Brice. Michele replaced Beanie Feldstein, whose performance in the show was panned by critics.
The entertainment world was stunned on October 24 when it was reported that legendary comedian and actor Leslie Jordan died in a tragic car accident. Appearing in shows like Will & Grace and earning a cult following on Instagram during the pandemic, Jordan’s death inspired a massive outpouring of love from fans.
2022 was a seriously rough year for Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West. His controversial and anti-Semitic comments resulted in him being dropped from his label and talent agency and losing deals with major collaborators like Gap and Adidas.
When Elon Musk announced in April that he planned to pay $44 billion for Twitter, many were skeptical that the deal would ever be completed. But once that officially happened in October, chaos ensued. Musk beefed with Stephen King over his plans to charge $20 a month for a “blue check,” suspended comedian Kathy Griffin’s account for making fun of him, and lost a slew of advertisers in a few days following his takeover of the company.
Anna Delvey, the NYC wannabe socialite and scammer made infamous in Shonda Rhimes‘ Netflix mini-series Inventing Anna, had a big year. The miniseries was one of Netflix’s most popular offerings of the year. Delvey continues to attract attention following her release from prison after being convicted on eight charges of theft and fraud.
In one of the most talked-about trials of the decade, actor Johnny Depp sued his ex Amber Heard in a Virginia Court for defamation after Heard accused Depp of abusing her. What came next was an absolute media circus, complete with around-the-clock coverage of the trial and countless TikTok memes. Depp ultimately prevailed in the case, but time will tell how the trial will impact the actor’s career.
If you’ve been on TikTok at all this year, you’ve almost assuredly heard the “My Money Don’t Jiggle Jiggle” song. The meme involves a clip of documentarian Louis Theroux, a clever dance, and an endlessly catchy melody that spent too much time in everyone’s heads this year.
’80s nostalgia was all the rage in 2022, thanks in no small part to Netflix’s Stranger Things. The cult-favorite series aired its fourth season this year, and it’s must-watch television for anyone who loves vintage pop culture or the spookily supernatural.
On November 1, rapper Kirsnik Khari Ball, better known as Takeoff, was killed in a shooting after a dice game in Houston. The rapper, one-third of the wildly popular trio Migos, was 28 years old.
Kim Kardashian stirred up one heck of a costume controversy when she chose a vintage Marilyn Monroe gown to wear to the 2022 Met Gala in May. Although initial reports alleged that Kardashian had ripped the dress while wearing it, its owners ultimately confirmed that those rips pre-dated Kim K. Meanwhile, others criticized Kardashian for talking about the extreme crash diet she used to lose weight to fit into the gown.
In a year packed with wild news, a new album from Beyonce was absolutely welcome news. Renaissance, released in July 2022, was an instant No. 1 hit and critical darling thanks to its seamless fusing of house, R&B, and disco.
On September 8, the world mourned the loss of Queen Elizabeth II. The longest reigning monarch in British history, the Queen’s story has been immortalized in countless pieces of pop culture, from film to music.
Comedian Bob Saget, known for his roles in Full House and raunchy stand-up, died suddenly at age 65 on January 9. His death, which reportedly came after a fall in which Saget hit his head, was met with countless tributes from comedians, actors, and Saget’s co-stars.
In a move that no one saw coming, the most famous couple of the early ’00s — Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck — got back together. The duo first dated from 2002 to 2004 before reconciling in 2021. The couple was married in July 2022, and the bride has since officially changed her name to Jennifer Affleck.
Who knew a word game could be so popular? That is, of course, until Wordle came on the scene. The game, which was eventually acquired by The New York Times, is a guessing game that involves picking the right five-letter word and was arguably the most buzzed-about mobile game of the year.
In October, social media went wild with news that Maroon 5 frontman and The Voice judge Adam Levine had DMed a woman he’d had an affair with to ask her if she’d be okay with him giving his unborn child her name. Perhaps not surprisingly, folks on social media had plenty to say about Levine’s DMs.
Amy McCarthy is a Texas-based journalist. Follow her on twitter at @aemccarthy.
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