In a year full of moments that had us going "What even is 2020?" it was hard to narrow them all down. It seemed that whenever something ridiculous happened, it would only be a matter of time before something else came along to top it. From Dolly Parton solidifying her legendary status [1] to Kanye West deciding he'd run for president [2], 2020 was certainly a mixed bag when it came to the world of pop culture. With 2020 finally coming to a close after what feels like an eternity, what better way to remember the fever-dream of a year than with the wildest pop culture moments from the weirdly wonderful to the downright bizarre? Ahead are the 20 moments that really had us going, "Wow, what a year."
Dolly Parton Funding the COVID-19 Vaccine
Dolly Parton donated $1.37 million (approximately £1 million) to the Vanderbilt University Medical Centre, where Moderna performed research and trials. This led to Moderna including the Dolly Parton COVID-19 Research Fund as one of its listed sponsors.
Taylor Swift Releasing Two Albums in One Year
No Swiftie could've predicted that Taylor Swift [4] would release two albums in one year, but 2020 was really her year after losing the rights to her masters in 2019. The musical masterpiece that are albums Folklore and Evermore [5] definitely served as the soundtrack to our 2020 tears.
Nigella Lawson Got Us All Question Our Pronunciation of Microwave
On an episode of her show show Cook, Eat, Repeat, Nigella both confused fans and sent them into hysterics when the chef, who was making a brown butter colcannon, said with a completely straight face that: "I still need a bit of milk, full fat, which I've warmed in the meecro-wa-vey." After a couple days of the internet being flooded with meecro-wa-vey memes (because, 2020), Nigella took to Twitter to clarify to her followers that her mispronunciation was intentional. "Well, I do say it like that, but not because I think that's how it's actually pronounced," she tweeted [8], adding that "it's a camp joke that's now become a habit."
Connell's Chain Became the Star of The Normal People
Who knew a simple accessory would compel viewers to "emotionally attach" themselves to a piece of metal [9] and create a fan Instagram account? That's exactly what happened back in May when Normal People aired on BBC. And whilst the show received critical acclaim, it was Connell's silver chain that got some of the most buzz, with one fashion editor even creating an Instagram page [10] dedicated solely to thirsting over the accessory.
The Way "Social Media" Works in Emily in Paris
We probably could've devoted a whole list to the what the f*ck moments from Netflix's Emily in Paris [14]. What really stood out to us was just how bad she was at social media, yet seemed to be a highly sought after influencer? She used the wrong characters in a hashtag that would've negated it . . . and she has a master's in the subject. It's all so wrong.
The Fly on Mike Pence's Head
It's not like we were really paying attention to anything Mike Pence said, but as soon as the fly landed on his head [15] during the Vice Presidential debate, nothing else mattered.
Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith's "Entanglement"
Jada and Will's Red Table Talk addressing Jada's controversial "entanglement" [17] with singer August Alsina, turned heads; particularly with Will's acceptance. It also gave people a new word to use when trying to describe complicated relationships.
The Pentagon Confirms UFOs Are Real
The Pentagon released three short videos showing "unidentified aerial phenomena [22]," essentially acknowledging the existence of UFOs.
Donald Trump's Press Conference at Four Seasons Total Landscaping
Somehow Donald Trump [23]'s team booked the family business Four Seasons Total Landscaping [24] instead of the Four Seasons in Philadelphia for a press conference. The jokes wrote themself and even Four Seasons Total Landscaping got in on the laugh by creating merchandise.
Rudy Giuliani's Scenes in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
In a scene from Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Rudy Giuliani is caught in a compromising position with Borat's daughter. "I only later realised [25] it must have been Sacha Baron Cohen [26]. I thought about all the people he previously fooled and I felt good about myself because he didn't get me," Giuliani said of the incident. Cohen denied Giuliani's claims by explaining how they filmed the scene [27].
Lil Wayne Visiting With Donald Trump
In October, Lil Wayne tweeted, "Just had a great meeting [28] with @realdonaldtrump @potus besides what he's done so far with criminal reform, the platinum plan is going to give the community real ownership. He listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done. 🤙🏾" He later confirmed his support in his mixtape No Ceilings 3. As a result, Wayne's girlfriend Love B. Scott dumped him [29].
The Way the Press Treated Meghan Markle and Prince Harry
While it was wild that Meghan and Harry left the royal family [30], what was truly horrendous and had us saying "what the f*ck" is how terribly the press treated Meghan. It didn't matter what she or Harry did, they were almost instantly scrutinized by the press in a way that Prince William and Kate Middleton never have been.
Kanye West Running For President
On July 4, Kanye West [31] announced he was running for president [32]. It wasn't until his name started showing up on the ballots that people took him seriously and he received around 60,000 votes in the election [33]. His actions had real-world repercussions and solidify the idea that voting isn't a joke and celebrities can't just do what they want [34].