22 Pop Culture Moments From 2021 We Couldn't Stop Talking About

    Who knew dancing with the devil would be so controversial?

    Ivy Richardson
    by Ivy Richardson

    BuzzFeed Contributor

    2021 may have had a few less lockdowns and a lot less banana bread than 2020, but it was still an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish.

    NBC

    If this year has taught us anything it’s to always expect the unexpected. Here are 22 moments from 2021 that absolutely no one saw coming.

    1. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took a step back from the royal family...

    Harry and Meghan standing under an umbrella
    Max Mumby/Indigo / Getty Images

    After a challenging few years in the spotlight, Harry and Meghan decided to step back from their royal duties and build a life for themselves that didn’t completely revolve around the Firm. It was an unprecedented move, and I don’t even think the Queen herself saw this coming. 

    2. ...And then gave us the royal tea in a tell-all interview with Oprah.

    Harry Windsor, Meghan Markle and oprah winfrey sat in a large green garden
    CBS

    This was the most talked about interview of the year – quite possibly of all time, and for good reason. The pair didn’t hold back and we have this interview to thank for the iconic “Were you silent or were you silenced?” memes that followed.


    3. Taylor Swift graced us with a 10-minute version of “All Too Well” and Jake Gyllenhaal became public enemy number one (once again).

    4. Keeping Up With The Kardashians came to an end after 20 incredible seasons.

    Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Scott Disick, Kris Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian standing in a line in the keeping up with the kardashians promo
    E!

    KUWTK aired its final season in March and left many of us wondering how we would continue to keep up with this wild family. It was the end of an era. 


    5. And Kim and Kanye filed for divorce.

    Kim Kardashian and Kanye West posing on the red carpet
    Rich Fury / Getty Images

    KUWTK came to an end and unfortunately, so did Kimye. But not all hope was lost…


    6. Kim K and Pete Davidson started dating, which might have just been the biggest plot twist of the year.

    pete davidson and kim kardashian dressed as aladdin and jasmine, kissing in an SNL skit
    NBC

    Kim didn’t waste any time getting back on the saddle. She allegedly started dating the man of the hour – Pete Davidson, in October, and has been spending lots of time with him ever since. It’s the most unlikely pairing but I’m here for it. 


    7. Adele released her first album in five years, and it was all about divorce, babe.

    8. Britney finally got her freedom.

    Britney spears posing and waving on the red carpet
    Valerie Macon / Getty Images

    After years of public protests, several documentaries, and pleas on social media, Britney was finally released from her 14-year long conservatorship in November. It was about time this legend got her life back into her own hands and we couldn’t be happier for her! 


    9. Celebrities became very vocal about their questionable hygiene habits.

    mila kunis and ashton kutcher on a video call
    NBC / Getty Images

    Why celebs felt comfortable enough to tell the world they don’t shower on a regular basis is beyond me, but each to their own I guess… 


    10. Lizzo drunk messaged Chris Evans and they eventually became friends.

    Karwai Tang / WireImage, Amanda Edwards / Getty Images

    Lizzo slid into Chris’ DMs while under the influence, which led to the exchange of some pretty wholesome messages and eventually, a friendship. Thankfully, Lizzo kept us all informed via TikTok, confirming what we all already knew – that Lizzo is 100% that bitch.


    11. HBO hosted the long-awaited Friends Reunion.

    Matt LeBlanc, Matt perry, Jennifer aniston, courteney cox, and lisa kudrow sat on the couch in the friends apartment
    HBO Max

    The Friends reunion was everything we could have hoped for and more. Seeing the whole gang back together and discussing the ins and outs of the timeless show was so cathartic.  

    12. Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker fell madly in love.

    13. And Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck got back together again.

    ben affleck embracing jennifer lopez on the red carpet
    Arturo Holmes / Getty Images

    These two reunited after nearly 20 years apart and gave us all a much-needed dose of nostalgia. And who said romance was dead? 


    14. Kim K went to the Met Gala looking like the grim reaper.

    kim kardashian in an all-black morph suit on the met gala steps
    Ray Tamarra / Getty Images

    Kimberley, what were you thinking? 


    15. And A$ap Rocky arrived wearing a patchwork quilt…

    asap rocky wearing a patchwork shawl looking at rihanna
    Sean Zanni / Getty Images

    I’m all for going against the grain but I’m not really sure what effect he was going for. If anything, he just looked really really cosy. 


    16. Squid Game took the world by storm.

    sang-woo and gi-hun looking battered in the squid game sleeping quarters
    Netflix

    Squid Game became the most watched show in Netflix history, and it had us all in a chokehold for quite some time. The creators, actors, and crew really understood the assignment and truth be told, it’s pretty hard to even remember a time before Squid Game entered our lives.  


    17. Lil Nas X descended to hell in his "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" music video and people had a lot to say about it.

    lil nas x bent over in front of someone dressed as satan
    Lil Nas X / Columbia Records / Via youtube.com

    Who knew a dance with the devil could be so controversial? 


    18. And then there was a legal battle over the release of his “Satan Shoes”.

    19. People got fed up with Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith sharing the intimate details of their lives.

    will and jada pinkett smith posing on the red carpet
    Axelle / Bauer-Griffin / / Getty Images

    A Change.org petition was set up calling for these two to stop being interviewed and it got over 23,000 signatures! Between Red Table Talk, Will Smith’s latest memoirWill, and intermittent press interviews, these two had been in the headlines every couple of weeks and apparently, a lot of people think some things are better left unsaid. 


    20. And Cardi B and Penn Badgley had an unlikely Twitter exchange.

    Todd Williamson / Getty Images, Jim Spellman / Getty Images

    If you thought the Lizzo and Chris Evans friendship was random, get a load of Cardi B and Penn Badgley. The pair both gushed over each other online and the rest was history! There were several tweets, a letter sent to Cardi B’s home from Penn himself, and they even changed their Twitter profile pictures to photos of each other. If that doesn’t scream friendship, I don’t know what does.


    21. And Just Like That premiered, and filled the Sex in the City-shaped hole we all had in our lives.

    cynthia nixon, sarah jessica parker and kristin davis standing together as miranda, carrie, and charlotte
    HBO Max

    Everyone and their mums were thrilled to find out that a Sex in the City spin-off series would launch this year! The first few episodes have proven to be pretty controversial but I’m just glad to have these legendary women back on my TV screen. 


    22. And the fifth and final season of Insecure aired.

    yvonne orji and issa rae laughing in a kitchen as molly and issa in insecure
    HBO Max

    After five remarkable seasons, everyone’s favourite show finally came to an end. I’m not crying, you are. 


    What 2021 moment will you never forget? Tell us in the comments!