We recap through the lens of memes, TikTok sounds and pop culture moments of 2022
If Netflix hypothetically comes out with a Death To 2022 to make it a trilogy, how would Lawrence Fishburne describe the past 12 months? Does it put 2020 and 2021 to shame? Or perhaps, was this year actually a welcome and positive break from all the stress? Either way, we can’t help but recount the past months by a couple of incidents—both good and questionable—and a handful of memes these gave birth to. Up ahead, our roundup of notable pop culture moments of 2022:
The fall and resurrection (or fall, again) of Julia Fox
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While Julia Fox has been a media personality for a long while, many of us caught wind of her name as soon as she got linked with Ye (FKA Kanye West). So even if their whirlwind romance ended as soon as it started, it didn’t exactly dim Fox’s spotlight. Her red carpet appearances have become a sight to see, such as the use of actual human hair in her red carpet look. Her unconventional pronunciation of “Ahnkaght Jaemz (Uncut Gems),” man-repelling bleached brows and questionable takes makes all the Julia Fox-related content…something.
Ye? More like yeet
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This year has also proved to be a wild ride for Ye that, honestly, recapping the times he made headlines requires more time and a longer list. From feuding with Kid Cudi over Donda 2, fighting Pete Davidson and shading his baby mama Kim Kardashian…it’s a lot. But while he’s taken a ton of Ls this year, let’s not forget that he’s transformed into a hateful, MAGA-leaning anti-Semitic. He even used his Paris Fashion Week platform to forward his messages, earning the ire of everyone around him.
Euphoria Season Two: Cassie vs. Maddy smackdown
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The popular TV show released its second season earlier this year and made visible ripples. After winning six Emmy awards, including Zendaya’s second trophy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama series, Euphoria is an undisputed pop culture pillar of 2022, giving us prime discussion points and meme materials. How can we forget the Oklahoma breakdown? Or that confrontation scene between Cassie and Nate? Lastly, Cassie and Maddy’s catfight at the end of the season won the 2022 MTV Movie Award for Best Fight—over actual superhero flicks like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. While some cast members made their exits, we can’t wait to see what’s next for season three.
RELATED: Year in Search: What Were We Looking For?
The Oscars Slap
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While we had a lot of feelings about the Oscars lineup for this year, nothing could prepare us for what happened between Will Smith and Chris Rock. The unexpected move polarized Hollywood and everyone else who witnessed the incident. That’s why it deserves a place on this list of Pop Culture Moments for 2022. Was the Academy too harsh on Smith by banning him from the award show? Did Rock cross a line with that joke? Well, revisit the conversation we unpacked earlier this year.
The Jodi Sta. Maria Unauthorized Rusical
@itsacslifemasikip night of a thousand jodi sta. marias feat. @jodi_stamaria ♬ your daughter is sleeping with my husband – itsacslife
In the local pop culture space, internet superstar AC Soriano had a penchant for making parodies in his bedroom. But the biggest one to blow up this year? His Jodi Sta. Maria Unauthorized Rusical. Featuring the TikTok sound that mixes Benny Benassi and The Biz’s Satisfaction and the jaw-dropping dialogue from VIU’s The Broken Marriage Vow, this video has amassed over five million views and over 20,000 videos using the sound. If that isn’t influential, I don’t even know what that is. Arguably one of the best pop culture moments for 2022.
Depp vs. Heard vs. The Internet
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Back in May, the world tuned in to one of the biggest trial proceedings of Hollywood: Johnny Deep vs. Amber Heard. Again, this case tugged the general public between two sides and launched a thousand memes—something that might bring more harm than good. The latest update on the issue is that Heard settled the case but deemed the act as “not a concession.” Will 2023 witness another legal dispute between them? If it ever happens again, hopefully, it’s away from the spotlight.
RELATED: Should We *Really* Be Memeing Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s Trial?
Of multiverses and Marvel’s okay attempt
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In 2022, we also witnessed the showdown between two multiverse-exploring titles: Everything Everywhere All At Once and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. And while we thoroughly enjoyed Marvel’s attempt, we can’t deny the impact of Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu and Ke Huy Quan. Every accolade and award this movie gets is well deserved. Nonetheless, we’re still bummed that the film didn’t make it to the Oscar shortlist for Visual Effects and Makeup and Hairstyling—two of their strongest assets aside from the narrative and cast.
Running Up That Hill, Bloody Mary and Goo Goo Muck
@ladygaga BLOODY WEDNESDAY #fyp ♬ original sound – heyy
Netflix basks in the glory of many of its popular shows, but there’s something about Stranger Things 4 and Wednesday that has an impact on reviving old hits. The sci-fi smash hit brought back the euphoric classic: Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill and gave it spots in the music charts. In the same vein, TikTok acquired a newfound appreciation for an old hit thanks to Wednesday—but not in the way you think. Wednesday Addams’s dance scene might’ve been to The Cramps’ Goo Goo Muck, but the tread overlays the scene and its recreations with Lady Gaga’s Bloody Mary. Either way, we love all three songs equally.
Drag Race Philippines
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With the help of two trailblazing shows, the year has become a landmark time for the local drag scene. So far, however, Drag Race Philippines has become a being of its own and an incomparable pop culture moment in 2022. This compilation is enough of an explanation. Missing this Wednesday habit? Check out our in-depth recap of our favorite moments and a look back at the season finale.
If you’re looking for a new weekly habit involving Filipino talent and the local Drag Scene, check out Drag Den with Manila Luzon, too. We promise, you won’t regret it.
Much To Worry About, Darling
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Olivia Wilde’s second film as director has gained so much attention that it literally took all eyes away from the film. As soon as we heard Wilde had beef with her lead actress, Florence Pugh, Wilde had much to worry about. Again, we have many questions: What is Shia LeBeouf’s role in the drama? Did Harry Styles get the role because he’s a nepo boyfriend (now ex)? Are the #Spitgate memes real? Either way, Don’t Worry Darling has become a pop culture moment in itself. Just not in the way Wilde envisioned—sorry, girl.
RELATED: On Cheating & My Mother’s Odd Advice
The Try Guys try crisis management
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While Eugene Lee Yang, Zach Kornfeld and Keith Haberberger believed that they weren’t famous enough to earn a parody skit on Saturday Night Live, the Try Guys Trio stand corrected. After raising younger Millennials and older Gen Z-ers on their backs, a major scandal rocked the iconic quintet of BuzzFeed alumni. Ned Fulmer, known as the “I ❤️ MY WIFE” guy, got exposed as a disloyal cheater who got into a relationship with one of their subordinates. So not only is it an infidelity issue but an overall business, HR and PR nightmare. But the trio regained most of the public trust with this unfiltered, five-minute statement, giving everyone a masterclass in crisis management. They didn’t even shy away from making their own jokes about the incident.
A Negroni Sbagliato… with a bit of Prosecco in it
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As House of the Dragon premiered this year, two of the main leads find themselves as the faces of the year’s best meme. The interview between Emma D’Arcy (who plays Queen Rhaenyra) and Olivia Cooke (who plays Queen Alicent Hightower) became viral due to their conversations about D’Arcy’s drink of choice. If their voices play in your head as you read this, it has genuinely reached viral status. Bartenders and mixologists took to social media to share their recipes, even myth-busting some claims around the cocktail. Whether you want to recreate this drink or many others for the New Year, we have a couple of recipes to help you out.
Musk’s Twitter reign
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It comes as no surprise that ever since Elon Musk officially took over the microblogging platform, things have taken a turn for the worst. In the first week, Musk fired key executives, more far-right speech populated on the platform and a couple of Twitter Blue subscriptions bit him back. Users who mentioned other social media platforms in their Tweets get their accounts banned, and we now have View Counts on everything we put on the site. So far, not so good. While Twitter didn’t crash as we thought it would, here are a couple of backup platforms for your needs.
The White Lotus
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HBO continues its strong streak of hit shows like Euphoria, Succession and, this time around, The White Lotus. The black comedy-drama anthology follows a batch of tourists at the idyllic White Lotus resort. But as their vacations get longer, more secrets—almost all dark—get uncovered. While its first season earned multiple Emmys, its second season proved to be an even better one thanks to better backstories, a cohesive set of interwoven plots and shocking surprises. How can we also leave out the equally amazing star-studded cast, such as the return of Jennifer Coolidge and the debuts of Meghann Fahy and even Aubrey Plaza in the show? Anyway, give us season three ASAP.
Rolling a spare (first Oprah, then Netflix)
While we thought all the issues between the British Royal Family and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were all in the past, 2022 has proven otherwise. Whether their attendance to the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebration wasn’t received properly or the outright rejection from mourners during the Queen’s funeral, the British public, and perhaps to some degree, the Royal Family, still have ill feelings towards Markle. Suddenly, the couple’s Netflix documentary series, Harry & Meghan, dropped last December 15. They didn’t shy away from opening old wounds (if they ever closed, anyway).
But that’s not the end of the couple, as Prince Harry might release his controversial memoir, Spare, on January 2023. So no, the Netflix stint won’t be the last of Prince Harry and Meghan, and by extension, the Royal Family, in the spotlight.
RELATED: “Harry and Meghan:” An Indulgent But Illuminating Documentary Series
Which pop culture moments of 2022 live in your mind rent-free? Let us know in the comments below!
Art Matthew Ian Fetalver
