It’s been a wild year, to say the least. We started with the never-ending Barbie discourse, kicked off by Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie’s supposed “snubs” for Best Director and Actress Oscars despite the film racking eight other nominations. Then Kate Middleton mysteriously disappeared, Taylor Swift dropped yet another album, and Beyoncé blessed us with her eighth studio album, Cowboy Carter. Labour’s landslide victory in the UK general election marked the end of a decade of Conservative rule. At the same time, across the pond, Biden stepped down from the US presidential race, paving the way for Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. Yet, it was Donald Trump who ultimately won the presidency. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg – so much happened it felt impossible to keep up. But through all the chaos, one thing remained constant: our collective ability to meme our way through it all.

From Donald Trump’s guilty verdict to Moo Deng and the cursed Wicked press tour, here’s a round-up of the best memes of 2024 in no particular order. 

THANK YOU THE CAN ❤️

This iconic meme originated on Instagram, but I’d be remiss not to mention that a year before it blew up, a very annoying person said a version of this to me. After I was given tickets to see Harry Styles and Lana Del Rey, they smugly said, “Oh Halima, they’re giving out a packet of crisps downstairs as well if you want that too.” Gag. Bitches stay mad 😹🫵

THE QUEEN OF MELROSE 

Cosmo Lombino is the undisputed meme queen, going viral multiple times this year. First, she rightly complained about the cost of being at Madonna’s concert, delivering it all with her sexy, husky, lived-in vocals. Second, for her incredible storytelling on the controversial YouTube series The Soft White Underbelly. Beyond her viral moments, Lombino has long been a fixture in the fashion world, working with and styling Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion and more.

WHAT THE HELL, SURE 

Jemima Kirke, you will always be famous!!

SEND IT TO ME RACHEL 

This crazy chica… This meme first went viral in 2022, but it made a comeback this year thanks to its sheer wackiness. The mum’s unwavering belief that Jesus was spotted in public, the desperation in her voice, her pleading with her daughter to “send it”... She’s a believer through and through. ’Tis the season after all!

RAYGUN (AND THE OLYMPICS IN GENERAL) 

I would argue that the 2024 Olympics were our most memed ever. From Kim Yeji and Yusuf Dikeç serving flawless main character energy (we’ll ignore the fact they both thanked Elon Musk for their virality) to Snoop Dogg getting paid $500k to goof around on live television, and finally Raygun – the Olympic breakdancer and PhD student who captivated the world. Was she good? Not at all. ❤️ Did she try her best? Idk tbh ❤️

LUIGI MANGIONE

As we’ve repeatedly said, we do not condone violence at Dazed, but Luigi Mangione touched the hearts of people in America and beyond. The murder he is suspected of having committed, of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, wasn’t just memed; it was celebrated, reflecting the deep frustrations Americans have with their broken healthcare system. To many, Luigi is a modern-day Robin Hood.

DEMI MOORE’S COAT IN THE SUBSTANCE 

One of the most-discussed films of the year was Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance, a satirical body horror tackling beauty standards for women, especially older women. The film sparked a fierce debate: was it feminist, or did it replicate the objectification it sought to critique? One thing everyone agreed on, though: Demi Moore’s bright yellow coat was everything.

IN DA CLERB, WE ALL FAM 

Ilana Wexler and Abbi Abrams, I love you ladies so much. This audio comes from Broad City, one of the best TV shows ever, following two chaotic best friends living in New York. Sure, some parts of the show haven’t aged well (we’ll ignore the Hillary Clinton episode, lol), but so much remains iconic. The time Ilana rejected her boyfriend’s marriage proposal with, “Marriage? Lincoln. I’m only 27. What am I? A child bride?” is a timeless classic!

HUAK TUAH 

I literally have no idea who this girl is ❤️ and yet she was everywhere this year xx

YOU THINK YOU JUST FELL OUT OF A COCONUT TREE?

Obviously, this meme did not age well, as Vice President Kamala Harris will not be in the Oval Office come January. For a while, it looked like her image was transforming – from top cop to quirky aunty – but even attaching herself to Charli xcx’s Brat wasn’t enough to secure her the presidency. 

KAMALA IS BRAT

Now, if she’d done this, I genuinely think she might’ve won 💔 Free abortion coupons for everybody! During her campaign, Harris’s team attached themselves to Charli xcx’s sixth studio album Brat – a move that started off as clever but quickly veered into cringe territory.

MOO DENG 

As our political editor, James Grieg, wrote about the pygmy hippopotamus, “What is left to say about this crazy chica?” From her screaming, biting, and perpetually sour demeanour, Moo Deng has perfectly encapsulated what 2024 felt like. Moo Deng 4 ever.

WONKA EXPERIENCE 

One of the year’s most unhinged events was the unlicensed Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-themed experience. Less a whimsical adventure and more a fever dream in a warehouse, it resulted in Channel 5 commissioning Wonka: The Scandal That Rocked Britain.

THE WICKED PRESS TOUR

The image of Ariana Grande holding Cynthia Erivo’s finger, while a journalist in queer media tells Erivo that she’s seen videos of people “holding space” for the lyrics of “Defying Gravity” will live in all of our hearts and minds forever. Also, for the record, I think Grande and Erivo’s behaviour was pretty normal during the Wicked press tour – unfortunately, theatre kids are just like that (annoying!).

VERY DEMURE, VERY MINDFUL 

Jools Lebron’s “very demure, very mindful” is my meme of the year. Not only was it hilarious, but the viral moment allowed Lebron to quit her checkout job, appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and fund her gender transition. She deserves the world and then some.

CLAIRO SHADE 

Not including Clairo on this list would lowkey be Clairo shade.