![French teacher Marieme Toure serves a plate of the Senegalese food she prepared for her AP French Language and Culture class, to senior Faiza Syed. “I never had Senegalese food before,” Syed said. “I thought it was so cool that she was able to bring a part of her culture [and] background to us.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_0798-1200x906.jpeg)
![Junior Diya Arun stares out a window. For Arun, the winter season brings out the holiday blues. “ I think [the winter] has a negative effect on my mental health because I feel like the cold weather and people around me are also sadder [and] that affects me,” Arun said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_8047-1200x800.jpg)
![The Phoenix varsity volleyball team lines up for the national anthem. “We were more communicative [with each other] during this game, and I feel like we kept our energy up, especially after the first set,” senior Jessica Valdov said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DSC_0202-1200x800.jpg)
Looking back at 2024, the year was packed with unforgettable and surprising moments, ranging from pop culture to national devastation. The past 12 months left their mark on the world, irrevocably changing things for 2025. As the new year begins, it’s time to reflect on the climactic events of 2024, starting from the top.
- “Quiet on Set” – Mar. 17, 2024
The five-part documentary that came out on Max (previously known as HBO Max) shed light on the child abuse that occurred during the peak of the popularity of Nickelodeon. The channel’s famed shows, such as “Victorious,” “Drake and Josh,” and “Sam & Cat”, all came out during what many consider to be the golden era of 2010s kids’ TV shows. “Quiet on Set” reveals the toxic workplace culture Nickelodeon child stars endured during producer Dan Schneider’s reign. Among those stars is Drake Bell, who accused his former dialogue coach Brian Peck of sexually assaulting him. The heartbreaking nature of the documentary dropped a bomb and revealed the deplorable reality for the child stars, many of whom have a lasting legacy and career to this day. With the success of “Victorious” and “Sam & Cat” star Jennette McCurdy’s book “I’m Glad My Mom Died” and her co-star Ariana Grande’s Wicked press tour, it’s necessary to have the conversations sparked by “Quiet on Set.”
- Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar- Mar. 22, 2024
The ‘beef’ between Drake and Kendrick Lamar started around 2013 but the feud came back into the light in 2024. Through the years, fans had theorized that both of the rappers were subtly throwing punches at each other in their songs, but neither rapper ever openly admitted to those allegations prior to the release of Future’s “Like That” featuring Metro Boomin and Lamar. Last year, during the height of the feud, the two dissed each other back and forth through their music which caught attention in the eyes of people in and outside of the rap community. Songs like “Not Like Us” by Lamar and “Euphoria” by Drake were blasting through radios, social media platforms, and stores, creating two sides for the people to choose. Their conflict only escalated, sparking conversations of lyricism, success, and authenticity.
- Courts Full of Queens – Apr. 5, 2024
With viral edits showcasing girls basketball teams, a surge of popularity has risen for female athletes. This year, the amount of viewers that have been watching has risen by 226%. These impressive numbers gave well-deserved female athletes their recognition, but also allowed for many young girls to find new dreams of their own like being on the court or coaching for them. Popular female athletes like Caitlin Clarke, a player for the Indiana Fever, who got her fame through playing for the University of Iowa’s Hawkeyes, and Paige Bueckers who plays for the University of Connecticut Huskies turned into role models for these young girls. Girls basketball became a space where young female athletes can see their dreams being achievable and highlighted positively in the media.
- BRAT Summer – Jun. 7, 2024
Charli XCX’s sixth studio album “BRAT” came out at the beginning of the summer and gave people a new level of confidence. With upbeat songs, and the witty lyrics inspired heavily by club culture, this album had people hooked. This release also brought newer-before-seen levels of commercial success to Charli XCX, peaking at number one in the UK, Australia, and Ireland, as well as marking the artist’s highest debut on the Billboard 200 (number three). While the word “BRAT” doesn’t typically have a good connotation, fans gave it their own twist. What “BRAT” means to them, is being unapologetically themselves without caring about how people may perceive them. With its signature neon green color, and rather unique production choices, the album undoubtedly had a significant impact on the cultural landscape, even influencing the presidential campaign of Democratic party candidate and former vice president Kamala Harris.
- Assassination Attempt of President Trump – Jul. 13, 2024
Amidst all of the stress of the election cycle, on July 13 during one of President Donald Trump’s political rallies in Butler, Pa., Trump was grazed by a bullet to the ear. Immediately, security hunkered down, causing two pedestrian injuries and one man ending up dead. A few moments later, the gunman, twenty-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was fatally shot by the Secret Service. Later, President Trump used his wound as a symbol of his strength and the greatness of the Republican party and their cause. The photo of him throwing his hand up, while surrounded by Secret Service seconds after shots could be heard, became a large part of his campaign, even inspiring a large group of people to bandage their ears in a similar manner to show support and sympathy towards Trump at various political events. This turn of events ultimately gave Trump the upper hand in the election, leading to his victory.
- Epidemic of Celebrity Drama – Aug. 9, 2024 – Nov. 22, 2024
Two big movies were heavily awaited this year. “It Ends With Us” and “Wicked” were extremely promoted, but not in the expected way. During the promotions for “It Ends With Us,” fans were suspicious of Blake Lively who played the main character, Lily Bloom, due to the fact that it seemed as if she was unaware of the movie’s message given her tone-deaf responses to many interviews that were given during the press tour. Shortly thereafter, Lively started a feud between actor and producer Justin Baldoni, alleging Baldoni was asking her inappropriate questions and was overstepping his boundaries during specific intimate scenes. Legal documents were made from both sides discussing the workplace environments in their perspectives. Once the tour ended, Lively accused Baldoni of sexual assault and many costars were able to agree with Baldoni’s suspicious behaviors on set. However, none of them had ever seen the assault take place.
In addition, there have been swarms of fans speculating on the relationship between Cynthia Erivoand her “Wicked” co-star, Ariana Grande. During the “Wicked” press tour, the pair went viral for becoming easily emotional and sentimental, leading some comics to spoof their interviews. Eventually, this event sparked dating rumors, which weren’t quelled by the two getting matching tattoos. The conversation surrounding Grande’s progression as an artist and personality is inseparable from her kinship with Erivo, so it makes sense that some fans are getting especially speculative. Ultimately, this was only one rumor in a sea about Grande and Erivo, but it’s a prime example of just how much pop culture personalities can change as the culture shifts.
- 2024 Olympics- Aug. 11, 2024
This summer the Olympics took place in Paris, France, and was one to remember. Iconic singers like Celine Dion and Lady Gaga opened the event and created a great start for the 17 days of international sports. In the Olympic Village, Olympians were sharing their meals such as the famous chocolate muffin, made popular by one of the athletes on his social media, and the new friendships that were being formed as the competition went on. Some of the most memorable moments of the summer 2024 Olympics were the Australian breakdancer Rachel “Raygun” Gunn who went viral all over the internet for the groundbreaking moves she demonstrated and Katie Ledecky, who earned herself 14 Olympic medals becoming the most decorated U.S. female athlete. This year’s event also brought a lot of global issues to the public’s attention. Another Olympic breakdancer that went viral, but did so for a different reason than Gunn, was Manizha Talash, who was disqualified from the competition for wearing a cape that said “Free Afghan Women.” These extraordinary performances and acts across all sports demonstrate the intersection of teamwork, trust, resilience, and politics.
- Celebrity Look-Alike Contests Oct. 22, 2024
Perhaps one of the most unserious examples of 2024’s pop culture fiascos: a Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest in New York City’s Washington Square Park, quickly marking the beginning of a trend. Chalamet himself made a surprise appearance as his protégés proved their likeness in a series of through-themed rounds, finally ending the contest with a vote. The contest’s virality led to a series of similar contests, with doppelgängers of Jeremey Allen White, Zayn Malik, and Paul Mescal each competing against one another. Not only are the prevalence of these contests amusing, but they also bring together fans who love these celebrities’ work.
- The US Presidential Race – Nov. 5, 2024
As the 2024 Presidential Election came closer, it became even more clear that the stakes were higher than expected. With Trump’s attempted assassination and the switch of the Democratic Party’s candidate to Kamala Harris, the mainstream media, as well as social media, were constantly filled with information about the two candidates, their advertisements, and proposed policies. On July 21, the same day former President Joe Biden stepped down from the role of the Democratic nominee & the “Biden-Harris HQ” social media accounts were rebranded into “Kamala HQ,” Charli XCX posted on X, saying “Kamala IS brat”. The initial excitement over the new presidential nominee gave Harris’s campaign a significant boost, and led to the “birth” of viral memes, such as the “big sister general” clip from Harris’s interview, and various remixes and TikTok sounds based on Harris’s rhetorical question “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?”
But although Harris dominated TikTok during the summer, Trump’s campaign utilized media broadcasts and similar outlets to spread their messaging and promote the candidate. Towards the end of the election cycle, Trump appeared on multiple podcasts with millions of views, such as the “Joe Rogan Experience”, and Theo Von’s “This Past Weekend” with a currently combined view count of over 70 million. Ultimately, Trump won the election and became the 47th president of the U.S.
- The Assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO – Dec. 4, 2024
On Dec. 4, the UnitedHealthcare Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Brian Thompson was shot and killed in broad daylight in New York. The main suspect is 26-year-old Luigi Mangione, a well-educated and wealthy man who threw social media into a frenzy. The alleged cause that led Mangione to first-degree murder? He was suffering from a botched back surgery that caused him chronic, intense pain. As his physical pain surged, the mental toll it took on him was worse; he started to isolate himself from his loved ones and blamed the healthcare system for the pain he was feeling. Because he had been recently removed from his family’s health insurance, he couldn’t pay for adequate treatment. This incident sparked widespread debate on whether Mangione was innocent or guilty.
Many of the events of this past year will inevitably affect the lives of Americans and people all around the globe in 2025. These pivotal events–and the discussions they spurred– prove that reaction and speculation are becoming intertwined with the news events themselves.
