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What started as a simple phrase in a lecture by Lebanese-Australian Da’ee Mohamed Hoblos has turned into a global internet sensation.
The now-famous line, “Brother Eeeew, Brother Eeeeeeeew, what’s that?” has been remixed, downloaded, proving that memes truly have a life of their own.
The phrase, pulled from Hoblos’s lecture Are You a Man, has transcended its goofy origins. Beyond the laughs, it has inspired a surprising number of people to delve deeper into Islam.
The clip has led curious viewers to the original lecture, sparking conversations about faith, gratitude, and even food etiquette.
Hoblos, known for his warm and approachable style, is taking the meme fame in stride. “As Muslims, we avoid saying things like ‘eeew’ about food to show gratitude for Allah’s blessings,” he said, casually turning his viral moment into a teachable one.
Fans have remixed it into catchy songs, with non-Muslims and Muslims alike joining the conversation.
What’s remarkable is how a single word has managed to cross cultural and religious boundaries, blending humour with heartfelt inspiration. Who knew a meme could make people laugh, think, and explore faith—all at once?
February: Wonka experience
A Willy Wonka-inspired event in Glasgow, "Willy's Chocolate Experience," went viral for all the wrong reasons.
Promising a whimsical immersive adventure, the event delivered a dull, poorly executed experience in a drab warehouse.
Families, who paid £35 per ticket, were left disillusioned as children cried, and some demanded refunds.
Actor Paul Connell, hired to play Willy Wonka, described the script as “AI-generated gibberish,” while Kirsty Paterson, portraying an Oompa Loompa, recalled rationed jelly beans and a chaotic production.
Social media erupted with memes mocking the event's uninspired displays and a peculiar character, "The Unknown." The debacle has become an internet sensation, blending humor with collective disbelief.
March: chick-flick
Gina Lynn, a Chick-fil-A cashier with a flair for expressive reactions, has become the latest TikTok sensation. The video that launched her into internet stardom features her wide-eyed, puff-lipped delivery of the now-famous line: “No Chick-fil-A sauce?”
The video racked up approximately 1.4 million plays and over 293,300 likes, turning Gina into a meme-worthy star almost overnight.
Gina Lynn, who operates her own TikTok account under the handle @.gina.lynn, has leaned into her newfound fame.
TikTok users have affectionately dubbed her "Chick-fil-A Gina," while many on X have compared her exaggerated expressions to characters from beloved TV shows and movies.
The question that remains on everyone’s mind: how did a single line about Chick-fil-A sauce catapult a cashier into the meme hall of fame? It might just be the secret sauce—Gina’s charm and humor.
April: JoJo Siwa
Former child star JoJo Siwa is back in the headlines, trading her trademark glitter and bows for leather and edgy beats, but her comments on “gay pop” have sparked a heated online debate.
The “Dance Moms” alumna, now 21, is rebranding herself with an edgier sound and look. But while her transformation had tongues wagging, it was her remarks about creating a new music genre called “gay pop” that lit up social media with backlash.
In an interview with Billboard, Siwa enthusiastically declared she wanted to “start a new genre of music” called gay pop. However, a short snippet of her comment—where she seemed to claim credit for inventing gay pop—went viral, sparking a flurry of reactions.
On the platform formerly known as Twitter, memes and jokes abounded. Some users criticised her lack of awareness, while others saw the humour in her attempt to champion a well-established genre.
May: Trust fund, finance, 6’5, blue eyes
In a surprising twist, finance bros—the often-vilified archetypes of excess and corporate monotony—have become the unlikely stars of a viral TikTok trend, proving that, in the world of internet culture, even Wall Street can have its moment.
The trend kicked off earlier this month when TikTok creator Girl on Couch uploaded a tongue-in-cheek video declaring her desire for "a man in finance," complete with a trust fund, blue eyes, and towering height. The lyrics, delivered in a pitch-perfect blend of Alexis Rose from Schitt's Creek and Charli XCX energy, were set to a beat reminiscent of Like a G6, the 2010s party anthem.
The video quickly spiralled into meme territory, with TikTok’s army of creators transforming the spoken-word tune into an array of club-ready tracks. Creators paired these beats with videos of sharply dressed bankers juggling double espressos and power salads, spurring debates about the most datable finance subfields.
June: Hawk Tuah
Hailey Welch, a 21-year-old from Belfast, Tennessee, shot to internet fame as “Hawk Tuah Girl” after a street interview with Tim & Dee TV during Nashville’s CMA Fest.
When asked about a move that drives men crazy, her cheeky response—"You gotta give ’em that ‘hawk tuah’ and spit on that thang"—delivered with unfiltered confidence, quickly became a viral moment.
The phrase "hawk tuah," mimicking the sound of spitting, sparked laughter, memes, and even a surge of 4.7 million searches on adult sites, while her playful delivery turned her into an internet darling.
Welch’s candid humor struck a chord, earning her millions of fans and a fast-growing social media presence.
Welch is riding the wave with a management team, paid appearances, and merch sales that have already brought in at least $65,000.
Now looking ahead to podcasts and shows, she’s embracing her unexpected fame, saying, “Isn’t God great? Can’t wait for what’s ahead.”
July: Coconut brat
In July, presidential candidate Kamala Harris experienced a surge in internet fame, driven by coconuts, brats, and viral memes, as she took the lead in energising the Democratic Party’s 2024 campaign.
The phenomenon started with Harris’ memorable line from a 2023 White House event: “I don’t know what’s wrong with you young people. You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?” Initially mocked as nonsensical, the phrase was reclaimed online as a rallying cry.
Harris’ campaign embraced the slogan “adding context,” while supporters coined “Operation Coconut Tree,” turning it into a full-blown online movement.
The frenzy coincided with the “Brat Summer” trend, inspired by Charli XCX’s minimalist lime-green album Brat, which has dominated social media and fashion. After Charli XCX tweeted “Kamala IS brat,” garnering 51 million views, Harris’ campaign adopted the album’s aesthetic, sparking countless mashups of coconut tree and brat memes across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X.
“Brat represents messy authenticity and carefree vibes,” said Gevin Reynolds, Harris’ former speechwriter. This relatable image resonated with younger voters, reshaping her persona as culturally savvy and approachable. As one viral post declared, “We absolutely MUST meme this woman into the presidency!”
August: Demure mindful
The internet has caught a serious case of mindfulness – but with a very playful twist. The "Very Demure, Very Mindful" meme, which started as a TikTok video from beauty influencer Jools Lebron, has exploded across social media, leaving people laughing and reflecting on their own level of mindfulness in the most humorous way possible.
The trend took off after Lebron, a transgender woman, shared a 40-second video where she applied makeup and coined the phrase “very demure, very mindful.” In her video, she explained her philosophy: “demure” means being modest, polished, and above all, mindful – thoughtful of oneself and others, especially when presenting yourself to the world.
"You see how I do my makeup for work? Very demure, very mindful. I don’t come to work with a green-cut crease. I don’t look like a clown when I go to work. I don’t do too much," she quipped. "I’m very mindful while I’m at work. The way I came to the interview is the way I go to the job. A lot of you girls go to the interview looking like Marge Simpson and go to the job looking like Patty and Selma. Not demure. I’m very modest. I’m very mindful."
It wasn’t long before TikTok users jumped on the trend, and in just a week, over 40,000 videos using Lebron’s original audio flooded the platform. It wasn’t just TikTok where the meme made waves – it spread like wildfire across Twitter and Instagram too. The trend quickly became a fun way for people to poke fun at themselves and the mindfulness culture, all while keeping things light hearted and funny.
Rachel Gunn
August was dominated by Australia’s Rachel Gunn, also known as “RayGun,” who may not have anticipated how she’d capture the internet’s attention after the debut of breaking at the 2024 Paris Olympics which brought plenty of viral moments.
Performing at La Concorde, the 36-year-old b-girl’s round-robin showing in the women’s breaking competition sparked a wave of memes. Gunn failed to score any points in her battles, with her unconventional style leaving spectators both amused and puzzled.
However, Gunn’s road to the Olympics is far from trivial. A university lecturer with a Ph.D. in cultural studies, she incorporates “dance” into her academic research. She secured her Olympic spot by winning the QMS Oceania Championships in Sydney and was previously named Australia’s top-ranked b-girl in 2020 and 2021.
Her outfit choice added to the buzz. While other competitors sported custom uniforms, Gunn donned a standard tracksuit representing Australia, sparking further debate.
September: Baby hippo-Moo Deng
Moo Deng, a two-month-old pygmy hippo from Thailand's Khao Kheow Open Zoo, has become an internet sensation, inspiring a plethora of memes and even a parody on "Saturday Night Live" (SNL).
Her endearing antics, such as playfully biting her keeper's knee and her perpetually slick appearance, have endeared her to netizens worldwide.
Moo Deng's popularity has led to a surge in zoo visitors and a flood of creative memes.
Her expressive demeanour and unique charm have made her a relatable icon for many, symbolising everything from disdain for Mondays to carefree lifestyle vibes.
October: Look Alike contests
Have you ever been told you look like a celebrity? Does $50 sound like a sweet prize? Welcome to the world of lookalike contests—a trend sweeping the globe and turning internet memes into IRL madness.
It all started in New York City, where a YouTuber named Anthony Po organised a Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest that exploded in popularity.
Flyers were plastered around the city, and a Partiful invite circulated online, luring an enthusiastic crowd. The prize? A modest $50 and a trophy. The result? Absolute chaos. Think four arrests, a packed venue, and—plot twist—Timothée Chalamet himself showing up to crown his doppelgänger.
From there, this meme-turned-phenomenon gained international momentum. In Dublin, hopefuls donned Paul Mescal-inspired short shorts. In San Francisco, Dev Patel doppelgängers flocked to the scene. Over in London, Harry Styles’ lookalikes unleashed their best androgynous fashion vibes.
The appeal is simple. Lookalike contests are a rare example of viral internet culture crossing over into real life with the same frenetic energy. There’s no governing body or set rules—just pure anarchy dictated by crowd cheers and fan thirst.
November: Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson fight
Jake Paul, 27, triumphed over 58-year-old Mike Tyson in a boxing bout, but the fight has drawn criticism and sparked a flood of memes online.
The match marked Tyson’s return to the ring after 19 years. Despite showing early dominance, the boxing legend struggled with fatigue as the bout progressed. Paul capitalised on his youthful stamina, securing a win in the later rounds and extending his record to 11-1.
Memes circulated widely, with many joking that Paul’s next opponent could be 81-year-old Joe Biden or even a 100-year-old challenger to maintain his winning streak.
The fight, originally set for June, was postponed due to a health issue for Tyson.
While some lauded Tyson’s bravery in returning to the sport, many criticised Paul for targeting older opponents to pad his record.
December: Prawn King
A dishevelled Muppet with a knack for awkwardness is causing a viral sensation on TikTok, but this time, it’s not Kermit or Miss Piggy stealing the spotlight. Enter Pepe the King Prawn — the Spanish, four-armed, orange-skinned Muppet whose face, often displaying a mix of exhaustion and bemusement, is the perfect backdrop for one of the internet’s latest meme formats.
Pepe the King Prawn is known for his outrageous flirtations and his sensitive nature, especially when it comes to being referred to as a shrimp.
His now-infamous image, with its frazzled, wide-eyed expression, has been a source of humor for years. But in December, it hit the TikTok mainstream thanks to a combination of Pepe’s face and a catchy tune. The key ingredient? Madonna’s “Like a Prayer,” specifically the choir version from Deadpool & Wolverine, which has sparked a wave of relatable, sometimes cringe-worthy, storytelling.
While Pepe may be a king prawn, the meme proves that sometimes, all it takes is a slightly panicked face and a dramatic soundtrack to capture the collective imagination.
So, next time you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, just remember: if Pepe can survive this meme revolution, so can we. Just don’t call him a shrimp.
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