13 memes that defined 2021 (2024)

It was a long disjointed year, but amid the chaos memes thrived.

2020 was particularly bleak, in global news and in internet culture. 2021 didn't start much better, but as more of the world opens up the more fodder there is for memes.

From new CDC guidelines to The French Dispatch, here are thirteen memes that defined this year so far.

1. Bernie at inauguration

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Bernie Sanders' Inauguration Day get-up was also 2021's inaugural meme. The Vermont senator's down jacket and oversized mittens — a gift from a Vermont teacher who hand-knit them from recycled sweaters — were far from the formal dress coats spotted on other guests, but they seemed to keep Sanders warm as he sat alone during the ceremony. Sanders' crossed arms and disinterested expression went viral as meme makers Photoshopped him onto the New York City subway, the moon, and iconic pieces of art.

2. It's March again

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Between a devastating pandemic, record wildfires, an exhausting election cycle, and a worldwide mental health crisis, the last year seemed like a collective fever dream. As February drew to a close, social media users refused to believe that the world was coming up on a year of social distancing. Nobody was ready for March again.

3. Harry and Meghan's Oprah interview

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Oprah Winfrey's explosive interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle exposed the British royal family as a racist organization that denied Markle mental health treatment and pulled the couple's security detail when they stepped back from senior roles in the monarchy. As the couple recounted anecdotes about "the Firm" — the British royal family's senior staff and the associated institutions — Oprah's appalled expressions became viral fodder. Screenshots of the interview were ripe for meme formats.

4. The ship stuck in the Suez Canal

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A wayward cargo ship ran aground in the Suez Canal amid high winds and low visibility, interrupting 12 percent of the world's trade. Twitter users weren't particularly optimistic when the Suez Canal Authority released photos of its efforts to dislodge the massive ship, which involved eight tugboats and a comically small excavator. Suez Canal Authority chairman Osama Rabie estimated that the stuck ship cost the Canal $14 to 15 million in daily revenue each day the passage remained blocked, but at least it gave way for excellent memes.

5. Vaxxed and waxed

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With vaccination rates skyrocketing through the spring, this summer's motto is "vaxxed and waxed." Social distancing isn't over — the pandemic is still a risk as COVID variants circulate through the world — but the fully vaccinated can ease into gathering in groups and go maskless around other fully vaccinated people. As the world slowly opens up, stay vaxxed and waxed for the ultimate hot girl summer.

6. The CDC says

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The Centers for Disease Control updated guidelines for the fully vaccinated in May, inspiring a new meme format on Twitter. If you're fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you can resume daily activities, which apparently include song lyrics, movie plots, and references to other meme formats.

7. Anakin and Padmé

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A scene from Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones resurfaced last month as a cheeky four-panel meme format. The set-up and punchline take place in the two panels, and Padmé's horrified response has been used for all-too-relatable reflections on healthcare, vaccination rates, and music tastes that should absolutely be red flags.

8. The French Dispatch

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In August Timothee Chalamet, Wes Anderson, Tilda Swinton, and Bill Murry attended the Cannes Film Festival in France to promote The French Dispatch. They all dressed in wildly different outfits. Inspired by the visual contrast between Chalamet, Anderson, Swinton, and Murray, Twitter users compared things that exist in the same category, but have very different vibes like beers, magazines, and movie theaters.

9. Did it hurt?

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A modern take on the tired pick up line "did it hurt when you fell from heaven," flourished in September. This meme format referenced song lyrics, movie plots, and painful universal experiences.

10. Yassify

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The yassifcation of the internet took hold in November. Yass, a term with roots in 1980s ball culture, became mainstream in 2013 due to its use on Broad City and a viral clip of a Lady Gaga fan. Now, it’s a verb, yassify, that means to heavily edit an image with ridiculous beauty filters. The account @YassifyBot allowed for the proliferation of yassifications on Twitter.

11. Evil be like

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Photo negatives of celebrities and beloved characters with the caption "Evil be like" went viral in October. These memes portray the evil version of whatever the celebrity or character is known for. For example, Lorde released Solar Power in 2021 so Evil Lorde be like "coal power."

12. The feminine urge

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This trend proliferated at the beginning of November and hasn't slowed down since because the feminine urge to tweet is very strong. These tweets document every possible feminine urge — the relatable, the absurd, and the unfortunate.

13. Kirsten Dunst yelling

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Twitter users took a screenshot of Kirsten Dunst defending Toby Maguire in Spider-Man and ran with it. This meme is usually accompanied by "he SAID" and sometimes feature someone else Photoshopped over Toby Maguire.

Thanks to all the memes that kept us company through another long, pandemic year.

This post was originally published in June 2021, and was updated in December 2021.