Much of this year has been marred by the COVID-19 pandemic. With more than 10 million lives lost worldwide, the virus has taken away much of the globe's social interaction. However, we overcame it. In the face of adversity and depression, creatives around the world built up platforms, online nightclubs, memes and much more to keep us entertained. Whether it was an online concert with Megan Thee Stallion or a documentary with Michael Jordan, there was always something to do online this year. As the year comes to a close, it wouldn't feel right if we didn't revisit the year's biggest social media moments.
Tyson Fury Knocks Out Deontay Wilder
It may be hard to believe, but Deontay Wilder's knockout loss to Tyson Fury happened this year. In a stunning manner, Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury did not just outbox Wilder, but he pounded him with power shots. Ultimately, Wilder's now-former trainer, Marc Breland, threw in the towel during the seventh round.
No, this was not fun in the slightest. In true Twitter fashion, we found the jokes in an uncomfortable situation and we let them fly. From highlighting close-ups of Wilder's face to comments about his ring walk, the jokes never seemed to end. Luckily, Wilder will fight again in 2021 and hopes to avenge his only career loss. As a wise man once said, it's a minor setback for a major comeback.
DJ D-Nice Parties With The World
As the reality of the coronavirus set in, the world was looking for a way to connect without physically being in the same room. Leading the charge, DJ D-Nice hosted the world's largest day and night party. Playing music from sun up to sundown, President-Elect Joe Biden, Snoop Dogg and several others joined in. In the months that followed, the legendary DJ took Club Quarantine across a myriad of platforms as he spread love around the world.
Sean Garrett And The-Dream Propel A New Phenomenon
Before there was Teddy Riley and Babyface, there was Sean Garrett and The-Dream. After the success of the first two battles, the two songwriters took Verzuz to a new level with jokes, pettyantics and smack talk. From The-Dream's mini-golf shenanigans to Sean Garrett's rants, the two Atlanta hitmakers took the Verzuz platform and pushed it into a new space.
Teddy Riley And Babyface Touch The Stage
It would be impossible to tell the story of 2020 without discussing the battle seen around the world. Three weeks after Sean Garrett and The-Dream made us all die of laughter, Swizz Beatz and Timbaland took things to a new level when they announced that Teddy Riley and Babyface would step on the Verzuz stage. However, things did not go according to plan. On April 18, nearly 400,000 people headed to Instagram to watch the battle. When they logged on, they found Teddy Riley struggling with sound issues as he brought in back-up dancers and a band. After hours of trying to get the sound right, Teddy Riley and Babyface postponed the battle for 48 hours. When they came back, Babyface was in peak form as he subtly joked and jabbed his way through the night.
The Last Dance
One of the miracles of the year was the push to have The Last Dance documentary released months earlier than expected. While the reality of a quarantined lifestyle set into American culture, millions of households bonded together over social media as we watched six-part documentary. In a matter of weeks, fans were privy to Michael Jordan's inner thoughts, the formation of the 1992 Dream Team and Scottie Pippen's contract battles with the Chicago Bulls. Week after week, the documentary series delivered meme after meme.
Issa, Lawrence, Condola and a Whole Lot Of Messiness
Insecure is by no means a new show. However, the pandemic allowed many to stay inside and bond over the show in a new way. One of the primary storylines involved Lawrence deciding between a relationship with Issa or an intimate friendship with Condola. With Issa centered as the main character, many fans took it upon themselves to defend her by intentionally messing up her name. From Canola Oil to Condolences, viewers reworked her name in a thousand different ways.
Erykah Badu and Jill Scott Heal The World One Song At A Time
After the deaths of Pop Smoke, Juice WRLD and Kobe Bryant were added to a global pandemic, many were drained, tired and fed up. Not to mention, millions of Americans were struggling financially and unsure if they were going to keep their jobs. In an attempt to add a sprinkle of happiness into the world, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott came together for a Verzuz battle that wasn't a true battle. Instead, the two united to spread positivity through smooth, soulful R&B.
Defining An Entanglement
Before the month of July, the word "entanglement" was simply a term that you would find in a college student's term paper. By the first of August, "entanglement" was the name of a song, a trending topic on Twitter and much more. During an episode of Red Table Talk, Jada Pinkett-Smith sat down with her husband, Will Smith, to discuss the ups and downs of their marriage. At one point, the couple discussed a point in time in which they were separated and seeing other people. Through this discussion, Pinkett-Smith confirmed that she was involved in an "entanglement" with singer August Alsina. Never missing out on a good joke, Twitter took the word "entanglement" and ran it through the wringer.
Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion Shake Up The Internet
In a matter of fifteen minutes, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion shook up the internet with the premiere of their "W.A.P" video. From guest appearances from Rubi Rose, Normani and several others, the visual certainly stands out as one of the biggest moments of the year.
We Did It Joe!
After four years of the Trump administration, voters across the country took to the polls to perform their civic duty. With a record voter turnout, President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris emerged victorious. Moments after learning of their win, Harris was recorded on camera delivering the famous "We did it Joe" phone call to the former Vice President.
The Knockout Seen Around The Timeline
With a month left in the year, we may have been gifted our funniest social media moment. In a celebrity boxing match, former NBA player Nate Robinson took on YouTube star Jake Paul. While some thought Robinson would make easy work of Paul, they were quickly proven wrong. Just a few moments into the first round, it became evident that the former NBA guard was not as well trained as his opponent. Then, the knockout came. Rushing in with his head down, Jake Paul landed a punch that put Robinson down flat on his face. Thankfully, he was fine, but Twitter wasted no time getting those jokes off.
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