Remember the glory days of pop culture? Looks like we are officially at the beginning of a new era; this year will go down in history as the start of the zeitgeist that is the Internet snapping back. Including icons getting hitched and the slap heard around the world, these are the top pop culture moments we all witnessed and reveled in throughout 2022.
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The Year of Julia Fox
Starting off the year from zero to 100, New York City It-girl Julia Fox made headlines when she started dating a certain individual who shall not be named for the sake of human decency. And although the relationship only lasted a short time, the firestorm of press and paparazzi that followed launched the Uncut Gems starlet to a new level of fame, making her a household name and letting her bring her crew of underground creative partners up with her. To say it’s been the Year of Julia Fox is an understatement, and I can’t wait to see what this next trip around the sun has in store for this legend in the making.
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Will Smith Hits Big at the Oscars
Promptly following the release of the highly anticipated film King Richard, actor Will Smith received massive critical acclaim that secured him as an awards season frontrunner. Fast-forward to the Academy Awards, where Smith not only received the Oscar for Best Actor but stole the entire show by slapping comedian Chris Rock across the face on live TV. The debacle made Smith the top trending topic across all social platforms and launched an endless series of think pieces detailing what it all means. Even the memes couldn’t keep up.
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Everyone’s Talking About Barbie
You know those images you just can’t unsee? I don’t think anyone could’ve predicted the way the Internet would embrace the photos of Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling on the set of Greta Gerwig’s forthcoming Barbie film. The buzz added hype to the Barbiecore fashion trend, which reflects the weight and influence of Valentino‘s pink collection, with the iconic color popping up on every red carpet (most notably on actress Anne Hathaway during her comeback press tour). And with the movie release just months away, something tells me all this Barbie talk isn’t going to stop anytime soon.
Photography provided by Better Homes & Gardens
Harry Styles Covers Better Homes & Gardens
When I think of the phrase “break the Internet,” my mind instantly goes to Kardashian, Hadid or Swift (Taylor that is). Enter Better Homes & Gardens and its genius idea to put globally beloved superstar Harry Styles on its June 2022 print cover. The cover drop trampled the publication’s website with more traffic than it could handle (oops!) and also brought the brand into a new era of impact and access to an entirely different genre of subjects to feature. Hands-down the top editorial swerve of the year. Congrats to all involved.
Photography provided by The New York Times
Wordle is the New Black
Before BeReal and the other too-many-to-name trending apps of the year, there was one everyone couldn’t stop talking about: Wordle. The digital game became a destination for avid puzzlers everywhere, uniting them beyond the daily New York Times crossword and challenging them to top their previous scores. Remember that knowledge is power, and anything that makes the world a smarter place is, in my opinion, more than welcome. (Thank you for your service, Wordle.)
Photography by Rich Fury/WireImage
Jenny and Ben Get Hitched
You know what never gets old? Celebrities finding love with other celebrities. Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck gifted the world with the revival of their relationship and now officially call each other husband and wife. What we as humanity have done right to deserve another go-round with these two American treasures keeps me up at night when I think about it too hard. To summarize, love wins. A love so great that Jennifer Lopez is now legally Jennifer Affleck. I will never not think about the Afflecks when frequenting my local Dunkin’.
Photography by Will Heath/NBC via Getty Images
Keke Palmer Slays Saturday Night Live
Speaking of American treasures, “octuple threat” Keke Palmer recently took to the Saturday Night Live stage and proved to the world she is one of the brightest talents in Hollywood — while simultaneously announcing big things are on the way with her pregnancy reveal during the live telecast. She was featured in a majority of the evening’s sketches, a rare feat that should surely secure her an Emmy nod. How blessed we are to live in the time of Keke Palmer.
