46 Cultural Moments That Defined 2011

It has been quite the year!

1.

Beyonce announces that she’s pregnant, everyone swoons over her “bikini baby bump.”

Via: hotcelebsvids.com

2.

Although it’s unclear what liquid was actually on Liam Neeson’s pants, it appears that he wet himself and was unaware of or totally cool with it.

Via: videogum.com

3.

In June 2011, Democratic New York Congressman Anthony Weiner accidentally tweeted a photo of his penis, resulting in countless “wiener” jokes, scandal, and eventually his resignation.

Via: blog.timesunion.com

4.

Photobombing celebrities and important figures becomes the new trend, inadvertently or purposefully (as is clearly the case here).

Via: tastefullyoffensive.com

5.

Michael Douglas photobombs wife Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angelina Jolie at the 2011 Golden Globe Awards.

Via: robotceleb.com

6.

Lindsay Lohan cries during court in November after being sentenced to thirty days in jail after violating probation repeatedly.

Via: yesee.qianlong.com

7.

On September 14, 2011, nude photos of actress Scarlett Johansson were leaked to the Internet, and everyone lost it. Johansson later contacted the FBI to find out who had hacked her phone and released the pictures.

Via: shalomlife.com

8.

20-year-old Mariah Yeater claims she got knocked up by Canadian pop star Justin Bieber, turns out she is actually just insane.

Via: socialitelife.com

9.

Political figures (particularly Republicans) eating hot dogs and other phallic-shaped objects occurs repeatedly throughout the year, is innately funny. Here’s presidential candidate Michele Bachmann participating.

Via: doylez.com

10.

… And presidential candidate Rick Perry enjoys a dog of the corn variety.

Via: southpawbeagle.com

11.

On October 31, Basketball player Kris Humphries and socialite Kim Kardashian announce their divorce, just 72 days after getting wed.

Via: 929nin.com

12.

The sensational Ryan Gosling lifts “Today” weatherman Al Roker.

Via: mjs538

13.

“Planking” gains international attention after professional rugby player David “Wolfman” Williams planks during a match on March 27, 2011.

Via: knowyourmeme.com

14.

16-year-old Courtney Stodden weds 51-year-old Doug Hutchinson in May 2011; society is mortified.

Via: gossipoverload.com

15.

Lady Gaga arrives being carried in a huge egg for the 2011 Grammys in February.

Via: huffingtonpost.com

16.

Maroon 5’s lead singer, Adam Levine, gets naked for an issue of Cosmo UK.

Via: huffingtonpost.com

17.

“Parks and Recreation” star Aziz Ansari looks to be having a bad day while walking in New York City. (The kid in the background is struggling as well.)

Via: globalgrind.com

18.

This cat photo was taken at just the right moment, and accordingly, made the viral rounds.

Via: angeloangelo

19.

Ken Jeong photobombs Kate Upton for the August issue of GQ.

Via: designyoutrust.com

20.

Some talented fans cosplay scenes from “Daria.”

Via: sodespair.deviantart.com

21.

A 5.8-magnitude earthquake strikes the east coast in August, resulting in little damage and hysterical cheeky photos of the “devastation.”

Via: usatoday.com

22.

Toronto mayor Rob Ford does the ceremonial kickoff for the Metro Bowl and later becomes a meme.

Via: media.thestar.topscms.com

23.

This convention happened.

Via: eatliver.com

24.

Australian Jacob French begins walking—dressed as a Stormtrooper—from Perth to Sydney in order to raise $50,000 and awareness for the Starlight Children’s Foundation.

Via: sobadsogood.com

25.

“Coning,” where a customer orders an ice cream cone at a drive-thru restaurant and then grabs the ice cream rather than the cone, becomes the new planking.

Via: www2.tbo.com

26.

Melissa Kellerman, a Dallas Cowboy cheerleader gets run over by Jason Witten during a Cowboys-Dolphins game.

Via: sportsgrid.com

27.

During a shoot, Swedish model Victoria Silvstedt encountered a less attractive model also sharing the beach at St. Bart’s.

Via: positivcheg.ru

28.

Adorable photos are taken at the 2011 Florida Corgi Picnic.

Via: floridacorgipicnic.com

29.

Peter Dinklage accepts the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series award for his role in “Game of Thrones” during the 63rd Annual Emmy Awards on September 18, 2011.

Via: socialitelife.com

30.

Man attempts to start an edgy new fashion trend, and fails.

Via: somuchgoodinternet.tumblr.com

31.

Two Playboy bunnies trying out “horsemaning,” aka the new new new new planking, outside the Playboy Mansion.

Via: reddit.com

32.

“Puggy,” a Pekingese, takes the world record for longest tongue on a dog, at 4.5 inches (11.43 cm).

Via: telegraph.co.uk

33.

On the cover of the August 15, 2011 edition of Newsweek, Michele Bachmann’s [crazy] eyes become a disturbing meme.

Via: videogoneviral.com

34.

Cats photobombing dogs and vice versa becomes a fierce competition, with this photo being one of the most shared images of the year.

Via: supercuriosidades.com

35.

Apparently, the Scottsdale Gun Club in Arizona offers photos with Santa, also with weapons—everything from pistols to machine guns.

Via: lazypalace.com

36.

Elmar Weisser of Germany wins the highly competitive “freestyle” category at the World Beard and Mustache Championships in Trondheim, Norway with his beard being sculpted into a forest scene featuring a reindeer.

Via: cbsnews.com

37.

President Barack Obama’s love of ice cream becomes a big hit on the Internet, particularly on Tumblr.

Via: ocregister.com

38.

Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal shares an intimate greeting with Argentinian player Juan Monaco.

Via: huffingtonpost.com

39.

“Singer” Rebecca Black arrives for the inaugural MTV O Music Awards for her performance of “Friday.”

Image by Ethan Miller / Getty Images

40.

Neil Patrick Harris, his partner David Burtka, and their twins dress up as “Peter Pan” characters for Halloween 2011.

Via: huffingtonpost.com

41.

Jasha Tottin, 21-year-old nudist from Portland, poses inside a dead horse, claiming she was inspired to do so by the scene in “Star Wars” where Han Solo slices up an animal and puts Luke Skywalker inside to keep him warm. [Censored because NSFW/L.]

Via: holymoly.com

42.

Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker share an intimate moment together on the street.

Via: blameitonthevoices.com

43.

Adele performs “Someone Like You” at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards.

Via: ibtimes.com

44.

After a car crash that sent two police officers to the hospital, “Jersey Shore” star Snooki struts the set in a neckbrace. Also, those boots.

Via: socialitelife.com

45.

A lifelong fan, actor Jason Segel vows to bring the Muppets back, makes it happen, and then poses in a series of awesome photos with them.

Via: muppet.wikia.com

46.

Iain Canning, Emily Sherman, and Gareth Unwin, producers of “The King’s Speech,” show off their Oscars for Best Picture backstage at the 83rd Academy Awards.

Image by MIKE BLAKE / Reuters