These were the moments that captured the zeitgeist and pop culture conversation, for better and for worse.
Related: These Movies From The First Half Of 2024 That Had Everyone Talking
It might be hard to believe, but we are already more than halfway through 2024. Like what do you mean it’s been six months since the start of the year? But regardless, as we reach the halfway point and look back on the year so far, it’s safe to say it’s been a wild ride. And no better way to prove that than with the pop culture moments that dominated headlines and had netizens talking during the first half of 2024.
TBH, pop culture has been pretty lively this year so far. From the mundane to the major, these events were the talk of the town. Some of these you probably still remember, others you forgot. But they all share the fact that these moments radiated big “You just had to be there” energy. Check out some of them below.
OVERPRICED FILM CAMERAS DISCOURSE TAKES OVER PINOY TWITTER
It was only the start of the year, yet, netizens already had something to talk about when a certain IG shop went viral for selling digicams thousands more than their original price. Understandably, many were not too happy that cameras that could be bought for less on different marketplaces were being co-opted as luxury items that were overpriced beyond belief. It was a New Year reminder that overpriced IG shops are real, but that they also aren’t the only way to buy the niche items you want.
NETIZENS DEBATE THE VALUE OF A 299 PESO ENGAGEMENT RING
In today’s hyper-connected world, even seemingly mundane things can take a life of its own. Take, for example, the 299 pesos engagement ring issue. Back in January, an anonymous post on the Hugot Ni Juan Facebook page went viral. In it, the sender shared how her boyfriend proposed to her with a 299 pesos engagement ring he bought online. She shared how the low value of the ring caused her to second-guess her worth in the relationship. As you can imagine, opinions flew on FB and beyond as netizens debated if a budget engagement ring was a big red flag or not.
JO KOY FLOPPING AT THE 2024 GOLDEN GLOBES
We still cringe just thinking about it. Given his Filipino heritage, there was some excitement in certain corners of the internet seeing Filipino representation on the big stage. Okay, a Filipino host for the 81st Golden Globes, cool. But the moment the show started, Jo Koy faced a tough crowd with jokes that were less funny and more misogynistic. What followed was a heated debate online on whether Jo Koy deserved all the hate. But regardless of where you sit on the aisle, you can’t deny it was a rough one. The comedian has since rebounded somewhat, but the moment will forever be a reminder that even the best of us can flop.
THE HOTTEST ACCESSORY OF 2024? DUCK HAIR CLIPS
@imyounic Ang cuuuuuuteeeeeee 🐥🤣🫶🏻#duckhairclip #binondo #chinatown #fashion #trending #fyp #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #foryoupage #fy ♬ queenofdisaster budots remix christianacemagsayon – dite_1
There was a time earlier this year when you couldn’t go anywhere without seeing someone wear a duck hair clip. Originating in Baguio before catching fire in the Metro, one of the most unexpected trends of the year was so unserious, yet fun and lighthearted. We don’t blame you if you have spare duck hair clips in your closet. And honestly, you can still wear it even though it’s no longer a trend because it’s still cute.
BINI’S RISE AND RISE
2024 is shaping up to be the year the underrated pop girls finally got their due, namely: Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, and Charli XCX. But let’s also not forget the monumental rise of BINI. If there was an award for Breakthrough of the Year, it would probably go to the eight-member P-pop girl group. The perfect storm of good things came together for BINI, and for those of us who have followed the group’s journey for years, seeing them finally get their flowers feels all kinds of correct.
THE SAGA OF SELOS BY SHAIRA
Speaking of pop girls, Bangsamoro Pop Queen Shaira was on everyone’s playlists with the viral success of her hit Selos. You can’t deny it was a bop. But things took a turn when the song was removed from all streaming platforms. It turned out that the song was removed because Australian singer-songwriter Lenka took legal action because Selos sounded too similar to her song Trouble Is A Friend. Selos eventually returned to streaming sites, but the song’s time in the spotlight, and ensuing legal drama, was a moment.
THE DEBACLE THAT WAS THE WILLY’S WONKA EXPERIENCE
@s0ngbaird #THEUNKNOWN || not the unknown scaring those kids 😥 || #glasgow #charlieandthechocolatefactory #wonka #oompaloompa #edit #viral #willywonka #foryoupage #fyp ♬ the unknown serving cvnt – olivia ☆
It was a disaster heard around the world. What was supposed to be a fun family experience based on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, albeit unlicensed, in Glasgow, Scotland, was a trainwreck of epic proportions. The videos that flooded the internet in February were the stuff of social media legend as many could not comprehend how bad the event was. From a fake villain called The Unknown to meth lab Oompa Loompa, the memes just wrote themselves. And you know you earned yourself a place in the pop culture history book when you have a Wikipedia page dedicated to you.
THAT UST 7-ELEVEN PHOTO
Remember this? Back in February, ThomasianWeb posted a photo of a group of UST students wearing their Type B uniform while they were in front of a 7-Eleven store. The uncanny resemblance between the uniform’s colors with that of the convenience store’s naturally elicited laughs from netizens. But what should have been a fun joke on social media became a mess after UST’s Office for Student Affairs (OSA) demanded the photo to be taken down. What followed was a domino effect that led to resignations, accusations of campus journalism censorship, and protests for press freedom. To think, this could have all been avoided if some people had a sense of humor.
THE CHOCOLATE HILLS RESORT
Paano pinayagan magpatayo ng isang resort sa gitna ng Chocolate Hills sa Bohol? Hindi ba ma-didisturb ang ecosystem ng paligid? Pwedeng magkaroon ng mga soil erosion and baka masira ang mga hill formations within the vicinity of the resort? 🤔
— @pauloinmanila and 99 others (@pauloMDtweets) March 13, 2024
©️ ren the adventurer (fb) pic.twitter.com/ACFniLUKyM
This one is a doozy. Back in March, social media was red-hot when a video showing a resort in the middle of the Chocolate Hills in Bohol went viral. The Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort enraged netizens with how it was built on the foot of some hills of a protected natural monument. While the resort was shut down, the whole issue raised important questions of why a building like that was allowed in the first place and the degradation our environment continues to face.
SARAH GERONIMO’S GLOBAL FORCE AWARD
Last March, Sarah Geronimo added another feather in her already heavy cap when Billboard honored her at their Women in Music Awards. She was one of the awardees for the Global Force Award in recognition of her contributions to the global music scene. Not only was she one of the first people to win it, but also the first-ever homegrown Filipina to take home an award at Women in Music.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: New albums from Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, and many more in the same year, 4th Impact trying and failing to raise funds to build a shelter for their dogs, Esophagus Esophagus by Kween Yasmin, Alden Richards teaching us how to say provinces’ names at Miss Universe Philippines 2024, Our new favorite TikTok duo Jenny and Perlas, How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies making many cry
Continue Reading: 9 Iconic Pop Culture Moments From 2014 We’re Still Thinking About
