Wow! What a year that was... 2017 turned out to be full of amazing event, some surprisingly good and some quite the opposite.
Regular people became heroes, while heroes became suspects. Many events and highlights of this year became highlights because of the people involved, like Beyonce and her pregnancy, or Malania's facial expressions when husband and President Donald is watching, and especially when he's not.
Other events include nature at it's best and entertainment or political events... I mean, wow. It really has been a year to remember. Let's take a look at some of the most amazing events.
When Wonder Woman Smashed Box Office Records
One could say 2017 was the year for women, Wonder Women to be exact. The super-hero movie made more than $100 million in its opening weekend and secured its number one slot in theatres for two weeks running!
The record-breaking numbers meant more for women than just a movie that did well, it was monumental since it marked the biggest opening by a woman director (Patty Jenkins) as well as being the biggest live-action box office EVER by a woman director. And then, of course, it gave the world Gal Gadot, a superhero of epic proportions on and off screen.
When Beyoncé Announced She Was Pregnant with Twins
When Beyoncé posted that picture on Instagram, announcing she was pregnant with twins, the world went the kind of wild that is only reserved for Queen B.
The picture of her debuting her baby bump surrounded by idyllic flowers, racked up more than 7.2 million likes n less than 20 hours- more than any other photo of that platform! Since that moment the world waited with anticipation for the most famous twins in the world to arrive- and they are as cute as we expected them to be!
When Harvey Weinstein Was Kicked Out of Hollywood
Harvey Weinstein, once one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, was put very much in his place when numerous women accused him of sexually inappropriate behavior. The women included a handful of Weinstein’s former employee's many famous actresses, including Angelina Jolie, Ashley Judd, and Asia Argento.
Claims range from him sexually pressuring them, to coercing, to rape. He was fired for, the Weinstein Company, kicked out of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and his wife left him. This event led to many other men of power in Hollywood getting called out for sexual misconduct.
When the Solar Eclipse Darkened the World
On August 21, 2017, the skies darkened from Oregon to South Carolina- the first visible eclipse from coast to coast of the United States in 900 years! As expected, the USA went wild with preparations.
From stocking up on eclipse glasses to camping out in the middle of the day for optimal viewing, to countless snaps of the moon covering the sun- it seems anything anyone could talk about was the Solar Eclipse, and it didn’t disappoint!
When Bitcoin Really Hit the Jackpot
Bitcoin has been around for several years, but only during 2017, bitcoin prices skyrocketed by 400%! The only questions people are asking themselves this year is "Why oh why didn't I buy a ton of bitcoins when it was worth just 20 dollars?!?"
One reason for this unimaginable increase is an upgrade to the software, enabling more bitcoin to be released for investment. Another reason is the media of course, which is a pro at selling dreams. The whole market of cryptocurrency and blockchain is gaining so much interest that many celebrities are joining these firms as investors. They don't really know what's going on there, but it is the current buzzword.
ps. Investing in bitcoin or any type of crypto coins is very speculative, and the market is unregulated, so you should be prepared to lose everything.
When Slime Became a Google Trend
If you have kids, you know what I'm talking about. Slime. In 2017 it became the most searched for DIY item on Google.
That gooey stuff that is sold overly priced at stores, but kids have found a way to make it themselves. On the bright side, it is cheaper, and good for their education. On the other hand, our kitchen looks like a chemical war zone. Many schools have banned the stuff from entering their grounds as it is a highly addictive game which is used during class as well.
Many researchers have shown that some chemicals used in the process are highly toxic, so if your kid wants to make slime on his own, search for the non-toxic version of the recipe.
When Michelle Obama Became a Meme
The side-eye that broke the internet, this face pulled by Michelle Obama was captured during the Donald Trump Inauguration back in January 2017. She clearly does not look too impressed, and can we really blame her?
With the meme taking the internet by storm, Obama eventually addressed the candid moment claiming she was really just trying to hold back tears after leaving the White House, which was the home to her, her husband and her two daughters for the past 8 years. Suuuuure.
When We Were Convinced Melania Trump Needed Saving
While Michelle Obama’s face was making headlines, Melania was not to be overshadowed. After a series of pictures came out of her own facial expressions during Trump’s inauguration, the world began to worry about the Slovenian First Lady.
Hashtags such as #FreeMelania and #SadMelania flooded social media, some convinced the First Lady was being held captive due to her less than pleased facial expression. Since then it seemed she has somewhat adjusted to lifestyle as a First Lady, but #SadMelania will always be in our hearts!
When Everyone Was Holding a Fidget Spinner
If you left the house during this year, there was about a 99% chance you would pass someone spinning one of these crazy, yet totally addictive propeller-like toys. These gadgets became such an obsession, that it led to many schools banning students from using them since they disrupted the class!
While every street vendor sold them next to the newspapers, and many celebrities caught onto the trend, they even made appearances as Halloween costumes, bath bombs, and many a meme- the most talked about toy in 2017 by far!
When Despacito Broke The Internet
This music video, by Daddy Yankee feat Luis Fonsi, has, to date, 4,575,645,160 views with only one of its versions, which makes this video the most watched ever on Youtube. It definitely does not mean it is the best song. Many parents would agree that it is even an annoying song, but hey... kids know their stuff.
What made this video stand out when so many other hits were released this year is a conundrum, but it probably has something to do with more smartphones in the hands of children, and them, being much more visual loving than their parents, like to listen to music, while watching the video.
It could also be because there are a ton of beautiful women in the video, which are ready for skinnydipping.
When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Got Engaged
We all need a dose of royal news in our years to make it that extra bit magical, and that’s exactly what we got when the adorable Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced their engagement late November this year.
Scheduled for a September wedding the upcoming year, the couple brought the internet into a frenzy with well-wishers and some very funny ‘Suites’ related memes. The Harry and Meghan obsession will definitely continue until we see this pair tie their knot in royal fashion!
When We Watched the History-Making Women’s March
While Trump’s election may have been shocking to most people, it certainly had some good outcomes, like encouraging people to band together for a common cause. Just the day after the inauguration, millions of women across the world marched to protest the presidency.
The march expanded from Washington DC, LA, to NYC and London. It included speeches from activists and celebrities such as America Ferrera and Ashley Judd, and the aura of women power was tangible. It ended up being the largest single-day protest in United States history!
When We Were All Obsessed With 13 Reasons Why
One of the most talked about shows of the year, for good and for bad, ‘13 Reasons Why’ premiered in March and had the world going gaga. The show dealt with the sensitive topic of suicide, and while some said it gave a brilliant and honest portrayal, many slammed it for glorifying the idea of suicide amongst teens.
It centers around Hannah Baker, a high-school student who left notes to all those important to her explaining why she decided to take her own life. The cast won over millions of fans through their acting skills and approachable social media, it also helped that it was produced by none other than Selena Gomez!
When the World Went Wild Over the NYC Subway Photo Showcasing Multiculturalism
"Thiiiiiis is what makes America great."- the perfect caption for this photo which shows a group of multicultural strangers smiling and interacting on a NYC subway. The powerful image captures a wishful reality and inspired millions to work on tolerance.
This photo went viral and led to many viewed adding their own, cross-cultural photos to the thread. It was one of those lights in a dark tunnel, a ray of hope in a year that has otherwise been fraught with hatred, suspicion and terror. We need more moments like these!
When BBC Dad Gave the Most Entertaining Interview to Date
Many are calling it the interview seen around the world, and it is not hard to understand why. Never has any BBC interview been this entertaining! It all started off with a political science professor, Robert E. Kelly giving a skype interview concerning South Korea.
All of a sudden, his four-year-old daughter crashes his screen time by stumbling into his office, followed by his adorable eight-month-old son who also wants to be part of the fun. Soon his wife collects the two, while Kelly keeps on with his interview. It earned him the name ‘BBC Dad’ and catapulted the family to fame overnight for the cutest interview on air!
When Kendall Jenner Embarrassed Herself in THAT Pepsi Campaign
Being in a family as famous as the Kardashian leaves a lot of space for fame, and a lot of space for embarrassment too. Reality star turned high-fashion model, Kendal Jenner realized that this year when she appeared in the highly insensitive Pepsi ad.
The ad heavily referenced resistance culture and was widely criticized for commodifying political protests for commercial interests. After the harsh backlash from around the world, Pepsi very quickly pulled down the ad, but not before Bernice Kind, the daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. could poke fun of the ad, taking to Twitter and captioning a photo of her father:
“If only Daddy would have known about the power of #Pepsi.”
If only Daddy would have known about the power of #Pepsi. pic.twitter.com/FA6JPrY72V
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) April 5, 2017
When Versace Had Its Greatest Comeback
It took time, but finally, 20 years after Gianni Versace’s death, Donatella Versace’s SS18 show repeated one of the most iconic moments in catwalk’s entire history in September,2017. It was a fitting tribute for the man that gave so much to pop culture, including that metal mesh cocktail dress that could have made Elizabeth Hurley’s carer.
With Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Carla Bruni and Helena Christensen walking the runway together, to the soundtrack of George Michael’s Freedom, things could not have gotten much better.
When Blue Planet 2 Made Us Stop and Think
The Documentary that brought horror to viewers around the world and made us stop and think about the effects of global warming more than any bar chart could.
Sir David Attenborough’s Blue Planet 2 told a front -row tale of life under and out of the sea. The five-minute clip of a mother and walrus struggling on melted ice could not have been more horrific to watch. But it got us all to stop and think.
When Salt Bae Became the Biggest Meme of 2017
The man, the meme, the legend. We all remember that morning we woke up, scrolled down our internet feed, and saw this guy and his incredible salt tactics flooding the internet with endless brilliant captions forming what is known as the greatest meme of 2017.
It all started with a cooking video on YouTube showing a man prepare some delicious looking meat, but when he through on that glistening salt, the world went wild and he became ‘ Salt Bae’.
When Meryl Streep Used Her Golden Globes Speech to Slam Trump
Meryl Streep showed just what a hero she is at the Golden Globes earlier this year. After accepting the Cecile B. DeMille Award, she (in her broken voice) unleashed a heartfelt and quite political speech that moved crowds to applause, awe, and even some tears.
The speech centered around attacking Donald Trump without naming him, pleading with the press to remain committed to the truth, and supporting tolerance amongst people from all over the world. She ended her speech with this dramatic line:
‘As my friend, the dear departed Princess Leia, said to me once, take your broken heart, make it into art. Thank you.’
When Model Ming Xi Was the First to Fall During Victoria Secret Fashion Show 2017
The model made headlines when she slipped on her skirt and fell during the iconic Victoria Secret Runway show that took place November 20, 2017.
While many thought CBS would edit it out before showing it, they not only included the footage but added an audio commentary from the producers and followed Xi backstage where she cried and was comforted by other models. If you thought you had your most embarrassing moment of 2017, think again…
When an Unlikely Duo Met Via Words with Friends
so last summer i randomly met this 80 y/o woman on words with friends. we played 300+ games together and she actually ended up becoming a good friend of mine. today i got to go to florida and meet her in person? pic.twitter.com/VXDbNS4eUo
— High Class Filth (@Filth800) December 1, 2017
In what was one of the most heart-warming viral moments of 2017, Spencer Sleyon showed the world his unlikely new friends. It all started in December 2nd 20187, when Rosalind Guttman, 81, a retiree from Florida, met Spencer Sleyon, 22, an aspiring rapper from Harlem through playing Words with Friends because she played the word “phat.”
The friendship went from strength to strength the two confiding their hopes, dreams and future with one another. the cuteness got to crazy levels when the two finally met up, took adorable snaps and played games together…. aww
When ‘La La Land’ Wasn’t Actually the Best Picture
It was the moment that shocked Hollywood and had everyone gasping at their screens, mouth wide open. After La La Land was announced as Best Picture winner at this year’s 89th Academy Awards back in February, it was revealed (in one of the most awkward moments to date) that Moonlight was in fact, the real winner.
Although everyone involved took it well, and Moonlight walked home the deserving winner, that moment of confusion will be cherished forever. Who says award shows aren’t interesting??
When the Charlottesville Rally Reminded Us White Supremacy Still Exists
It was a shocking event for America this year when violence erupted in the college town of Charlottesville on August 12 after hundreds of white nationalists and supporters join in a rally against plans to remove a Confederate statue and clashes begun when counter-protestors.
At one point, a vehicle drove into a crowd of counter-protestors before speeding away. It left one dead and dozens injured. Things only got worse when it took Trump more than the appropriate time to condemn those responsible for the violence of the day.
When Floyd Mayweather Beat Conor McGregor
Who can forget the trash talk, hype, and bets that surrounded the iconic Mayweather versus McGregor fight in August 2017. Floyd Mayweather defeated McGregor, fitting since he came out of retirement especially for the fight.
Both parties are said to have made an insane amount of money from the fight, with Mayweather earning an estimated $300 million and McGregor pocketing a reported $100 million.
When #MeToo Became a Thing
A Movement that was very much needed, and that is still going on in full force, the #MeToo campaign begun after many allegations of sexual assault were brought against giant Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The hashtag went viral after actress Alyssa Milano asked for those who have experienced sexual harassment or assault to respond to her tweet with #MeToo.
The movement took on epic proportions and started a trend of exposing many other public figures who have abused their powerful position to engage in sexual abuse and harassment. The simple hashtag showed the power of what we can accomplish when we join forces.
It's not your clothing.
It's not your feminism.
It's not your education.
It's your assailant.— Quinn Cummings (@quinncy) October 15, 2017
When We Looked at What We Made Taylor Swift Do
And she’s back in full force. Leave it to Taylor Swift to command the entire internet’s attention once again when she revisited all the past drama, and tapped into her new and fierce personae in the music video for her single ‘Look What You Made Me Do’.
In it she challenges her reputation, pokes fun at all her residual beef (did someone say Kanye and Katy Perry?) and gives the audience a visual masterpiece. One thing is for sure, the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now because she’s dead.
When Winona Rider Pulled Faced at the SAG Award Show
