A Look Back At 2025’s Top Pop Culture Moments

Ah, 2025. The year we were introduced to those creepy Labubus, sent pop stars into space and when numbers became the ultimate meme.

As the year draws to a close, we take a look back at some of the pop culture moments that shaped 2025.

From brain rot taking over social media, to the exposure of *multiple* cheating scandals, there is a lot to unpack, so come with us as we reminisce over some of the viral moments that will always define 2025.

1. TikTok banned in America

@emily_.854 #tiktokban #americantiktok #tiktokamerica #fyp #edit #core #american #jamescharles #avani #noahbeck @James Charles @avani @Tony Lopez @ONDREAZ @haleyybaylee @MADI MONROE @noah beck ♬ original sound – emily 🏎²³

2025 kicked off in a very dramatic fashion, after the US put forward a plan to ban one of the world most used apps, TikTok. When the news broke, it felt like the end of the world, like seriously. Creators in the US, began flooding their TikTok with their social media handles, and panic posted private confessions about their personal life.

There were goodbye videos made, until suddenly connection to the US was lost…. but only for 14 hours. Yes, that’s right, 14 hours. The dramatics were quite literally for nothing, but it did make for some good content.

2. Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Performance

@lyricsmusiconcertss EVERYONE IN THE CROWD SANG “A-MINORRRRR” “Not Like Us” SUPERBOWL Performance 🔥 Follow @lyricsmusiconcerts for more #fyp #music #lyrics ♬ Not Like Us – Kendrick Lamar

The 2025 Super Bowl was historic for reasons other than the actual game. Sure, it was great that the Eagles won against the Chiefs breaking their three in a row victory, but what had people really talking was Kendrick Lamar’s half time performance. As many will remember, Lamar and Drake have had an ongoing feud since 2013, with diss tracks throwing various accusations and shade against each other.

However, Lamar ended this fight once and for all after he sang ‘Not Like Us’ on the Super Bowl stage, reinstating everything we ever needed to know about “Hey Drake…” Not only that, but Lamar’s performance highlighted some of the major struggles that have been happening in America from social injustice to racism and capitalism. To have these issues mentioned on a major stage like this was nothing short of monumental.

3. Labubus

@xupes In our Labubu era 💅 #labubu #bagcharms #labubuthemonsters #birkinbag #hermesbirkin ♬ original sound – lukeing.good

If there was one thing that defined 2025, it was the Labubu. For years to come they will always remind us of the brain rot TikTok craze era that this year was. Created by Hong-Kong artist Kasing Lung in partnership with Pop Mart, this animal, monster, bear thing became more than a trend.

There were queues for miles outside Pop Marts across the world, with unboxing videos getting millions of views on TikTok, and fake Labubus being confiscated at customs. Like marmite you either loved them or hated them, with those who loved them having 4 or 5 of the creatures hanging off their bags! It was something to say the least…

4. Katy Perry goes to space

@katyperryOne day when you’re older, will YOU still look up in wonder? Still processing this incredible journey ✨ Thank you Blue Origin and to my space sisters, taking up space AND making room in space for all – 143 See you on tour (when I come down, figuratively)♬ original sound – Katy Perry

In one of the year’s most surreal headlines, Katy Perry quite literally reached new heights after joining 5 other women in a commercial space mission on board Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin Rocket. The mission wanted to highlight female involvement in space research and was set up to be marked as a feminist milestone.

But instead, it became one of 2025’s top meme, with the internet split between awe, irony and pure disbelief. Was it really a positive move for feminism? Or just a billionaire space flex? Either way, it gave us some entertainment and at least that’s something!

5. Coldplay kiss cam

@metroentertainment Well this was awkward.. 😳 At a recent @coldplay concert, frontman Chris Martin accidentally exposed a couple having an affair by showing them on kiss cam 🤦‍♂️ Whoops… Video Credit: Grace Springer via Storyful #chrismartin #coldplay #affair #kisscam #chrismartincoldplay #celebrity #celebritynews ♬ original sound – Metro Entertainment

The Coldplay kiss cam has to be one of 2025’s biggest scandals. After a couple’s affair was broadcasted live at a Coldplay concert to thousands of fans, it became a viral sensation with millions of views – you couldn’t make it up!

The viral clip did the rounds on social media, and the moment become a trend on TikTok, with businesses taking part to promote new products. Imagine your affair becoming a viral meme and having to watch it take over your social media – sounds like karma to me.

6. 6-7 meme

@yahoosports The 6-7 meme just got crowned Dictionary.com’s Word of the Year 😂📚 #sixseven ♬ original sound – Yahoo Sports

(It seems only right to put this at number 6…) The 6-7 meme has genuinely taken over the world, not just the internet anymore. Every time you step outside your house you hear those dreaded words, it’s impossible to escape. Millennial and Gen Z parents and teachers alike are confused about the origin of this number meme, that doesn’t really mean anything.

Ask a Gen alpha kid to explain it, and they’ll just laugh, and say 6-7 and run away. Although we may not know what it means – or ever find that out – 6-7 will continue to define youth culture… for maybe 6 or 7 years to come (sorry).

7. K-Pop Demon Hunters

@netflixkr new bop just arrived. #KPopDemonHunters is now playing, only on Netflix! #케이팝데몬헌터스 #KPopDemonHunters #ArdenCho #안효섭 #AhnHyoseop #YooJiyoung #김윤진 #KimYunjin #JoelKimBooster #LizaKoshy #DanielDaeKim #KenJeong #이병헌 #LeeByunghun #트와이스 #정연 #지효 #채영 #whattowatch #Netflix #넷플릭스 #familymovienight #NetflixKorea #NetflixKcontent ♬ original sound – Netflix K-Content – Netflix Korea

K-Pop Demon Hunters are probably the most successful franchise to come from 2025. After the movie surpassed all of Netflix’s viewer records worldwide, it became a worldwide sensation, with kids and adults becoming infatuated by the songs, style and story of the all-girl demon hunter group.

The franchise saw massive growth in the followers of K-Pop music as the song ‘Golden’ reached number 1 on the Billboard Global 200. It’s safe to say it was a good year for K-Pop!

8. Taylor Swift’s engagement

@zloomyx OMG THEY’RE ENGAGED!!! I’M SO HAPPYYY🥹❤️ congrats for this twooo #taylorswift #traviskelce #fyp #taylorswifttraviskelce #foryoupage ♬ Message In A Bottle (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault) – Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift’s long reign of boyfriends and break up songs officially come to an end this year, as she said Yes to Travis Kelce. Taylor posted the news on Instagram with the caption, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married”.

And while we might see a decline in those heart wrenching break up songs, we are excited to see the new lover era she has in store for us!

9. Lily Allen’s West End Girl

@lilyallen Who TF is Madeline? #newmusic #behindthesong ♬ original sound – Howell Davies

2025 was the year that Lily Allen released one of the most iconic break up albums of all time, West End Girl. The record follows her breakup from Stranger Things star David Harbour and gave us the incredible lyric: “Who the fuck is Madeline?”

The album gives a proper insight and look into the pair’s relationship and breakdown, including their open marriage, David’s breaking of the rules, and all of that love and light…