May

By May, awards season continued with the American Music Awards, where Billie Eilish took home seven trophies including Album of the Year, cementing her role as one of the defining artists of her generation. Kendrick Lamar led with ten nominations, showcasing his unmatched cultural influence, while legends like Janet Jackson and Rod Stewart were honored with career-defining awards. The intersection of technology and music also made headlines as EchoAura, and AI-generated artist, cracked the Billboard Hot 100, igniting heated debates about authenticity, creativity, and the future of music in an AI-driven world. On the festival circuit, Primavera Sound 2025 brought together a trio of pop powerhouses; Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, and Chappell Roan; who fans dubbed the “Primavera Powerpuff Girls.” Their collective dominance at the festival symbolized how female and queer artists are reshaping the pop landscape on their own terms. Kylie Jenner and Timothee Chalamet made their red carpet debut as a couple at the David Di Donatello awards in Rome. At the Cannes Festival, Pedro Pascal went viral for his playful red carpet antics. Denzel Washington has a heated exchange with a photographer, and Emma Stone was caught on video having a close encounter with a bee. A number of highly anticipated films and TV shows were released, including the video game adaptation of Until Dawn and the sequel The Accountant 2. On the small screen, a new season of The Righteous Gemstones premiered, and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars debuted its tenth and largest season yet with 18 queens competing. The lines between gaming and music continued to blur. Sabrina Carpenter headlined a partnership with Fortnite’s “Festival Season 8,” making her the the 53rd Icon Series skin in the game along with other artists like Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, and Billie Eilish. On the home video front, Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World was released on 4k, and several classic horror films like Friday the 13th: Jason Goes to Hell and Jason X were released on the format. A 1962 song by Connie Francis, “Pretty Little Baby,” went viral on TikTok and other social media platforms. This sparked a wave of nostalgia, with users reviving classic tracks from the 1950s to 1980s. In fashion, the Met Gala took place celebrating the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s spring exhibition, which was titled “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” The dress code for the evening was “Tailored for You,” which was a direct nod to the exhibition’s focus on Black dandyism and the historical importance of tailoring and style in the formation of Black identities. Some of the most notable moments and attendees include Rihanna debuting her baby bump and announcing her third pregnancy on the red carpet. The unexpected appearance of Diana Ross, who had not attended the event in 20 years. Co-chairs Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, and A$AP Rocky, and Pharrell Williams, who were all celebrated for their impeccable style that evening. Zendaya, who once again drew significant attention for her outfit, she was one of the first people to walk the carpet. TikTok added photos to comments making it a more interactive experience for users. The update was received positively with fans inserting a collection of memes, snapshots, and photo updates. TikTok was very popular this month as an encounter between two young girls and a TJ Maxx shopper occurred. The interaction went viral for its randomness, parasocial behavior, and mental health issues. Oh and the Annabelle doll escaped!

June

June was dominated by a mix of anticipated films, music partnerships, and the ever-present churn of celebrity news. Sabrina Carpenter surprised the world with the release of her single “Manchild.” The song is the beginning of a new album era for Carpenter, where she’s basically calling out men for their incompetent behavior. The video was released with a hilariously chaotic music video and of course online discourse. The Gen-Z pop star released the cover for her new album Man’s Best Friend which split the internet in half. Claims about Carpenter being male-centered, overly sexual, and spreading unsafe sex propaganda to teenage girls circulated. On the more level headed side, the cover was praised for its irony, double-meaning, and its eye-opening negative portrayal that men have against women. Some say she’s a comedic modern feminist with a musical unique twist while others are saying she “set back feminism 100 years.” The live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon was a highly anticipated title, aiming to attract both nostalgia fans and new audiences. President Trump and billionaire Elon Musk went through a very public “breakup.” The relationship between Elon Musk and Donald Trump deteriorated after Musk left his role as a White House advisor. A major point in concentration was Musk’s fierce opposition to the “Big Beautiful Bill” supported by the Trump administration. The dispute escalated into a bitter feud on social media, with the two men trading an array of threats and insults. The month also saw the release of several sequels and spin-offs, including the horror films 28 Years Later and M3GAN 2.0, as well as Ballerina, a high-octane action film set in the John Wick universe. Pixar released its new original film, Elio. The film made quite the conversation online about original animated films and poor marketing. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) made its way to Los Angeles under the order of President Trump. While there, the enforcement agency made hundreds of arrest sparking protest and backlash from civilians, politicians, and celebrities alike. In response to said protest, Trump deployed 2,000 of the National Guard to the city to “assist federal agents and help maintain peace.” Governor Newsom called the deployment “unlawful” and “unnecessary.” He filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration arguing that the president’s actions violated federal law and infringed on the state’s sovereignty. Social media, notably TikTok, saw several trends that captured the public’s attention including the “Propaganda I’m Not Falling For,” the meme format saw users and brands playfully call out trends or products they were not buying into. The “Manchild” trend was a specific verse from Sabrina Carpenter’s song, with users using the sound to vent about their exes. TikTok saw another trend called “Holy Airball,” which used a suspenseful format, building anticipation across several slides to a surprising or over-the-top reveal. The trend was grounds for political rejection of President Trump and his administration and the loss of Vice President Harris. Pride Month was a significant cultural moment as Washington D.C. hosted the World Pride 2025. This was a major international event that brought a global focus to the city’s Pride collection, which also marked their 50th anniversary. The biggest controversy surrounding companies during Pride Month was a significant widespread scaling back of pubic-facing LGBTQ+ support. This comes after DEI initiatives were made unrequired by President Trump and his administration, leading to companies scaling back on minority initiatives.

July

As the summer deepened, July extended that explosiveness of June. Film spared no time with July bringing anticipated blockbuster films and series. Superman was a massive event, with James Gunn’s new take on the Man of Steel launching a fresh DC slate. The Fantastic Four: First Steps also premiered, marking the first time Marvel Studios released a film with the beloved foursome. Jurassic World: Rebirth starring Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey brought dinosaurs back to the big screen. The film also made Johansson the highest grossing actor of all time surpassing Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Downey Jr. Moving from film to music Justin Bieber made headlines for his return to music, surprise releasing his seventh studio album Swag. The album featured the single “Daisies,” which quickly became a fan favorite. The popular K-pop group BLACKPINK released a new single “JUMP,” which was celebrated by fans as a high-energy return that highlighted the group’s electric chemistry. The Epstein Files made a large return to mainstream media as people speculate names including Trump that could be on the list. President Trump still has not released the files, this situation is still ongoing. Andy Byron, the former CEO of the tech company Astronomer, resigned this month after a video of him and the company’s head of HR, Kristin Cabot, embracing on a Coldplay concert kiss cam went viral. TikTok saw yet another trend with the “Just A Little Something To Take the Edge Off.” The trend saw users humorously showcasing small indulgences like a fancy latte or a new candle, to bigger ones like entire restaurants, bottles of liquor, biceps, plane trips and more. Coco Jones and Jonathan Mitchell announced their engagement, the couple had been together for two years. They took to Instagram to share a post featuring Coco Jones wearing a 5-carat cushion-cut diamond engagement ring, the ring also appears to be flanked by two pear-cut side stones. Stephen Colbert announced that the network will be cancelling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. He also announced his retirement and that the “Late Show” franchise will be discontinuing entirely in May 2026. This was a surprise to many as Colbert’s show has been the highest-rated in late-nights for several years. CBS and its parent company, Paramount Global, released a statement calling the decision “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night” and emphasized that it was “not related in any way to the show’s performance, content, or other matter happening at Paramount. The timing of the announcement immediately sparked outrage. Just days before, Colbert had publicly criticized Paramount’s $16 million settlement with Donald Trump over a “60 Minutes” story. The news was met with anger and shock from fans, politicians, and celebrities. Other late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon expressed their disappointment, and politicians like Senator Adam Schiff and Senator Elizabeth Warren called for an investigation into whether the cancellation was politically motivated. Donald Trump himself posted on social media, celebrating Colbert’s firing.

August

August is a month that always surprises me, it has no major holidays yet always has the most major headlines. Howard University was met with strong controversy over financial aid, increased tuition, and a housing crisis. The administration and many student organizations put out statements periodically saying their looking for solutions to the situation at hand, providing links to scholarships, resources, and people who can help in any way they can. Wednesday released the first part of the highly-anticipated second season on Netflix. A comprehensive and immersive marketing campaign preceded the premiere, including brand collaborations with Wendy’s and NYX Professional Makeup, and a global “Doom Tour” with the cast. K-pop Demon Hunters, an American animated musical that became a surprise cultural phenomenon, driving record-breaking success on Netflix and in theaters. It’s Netflix’s most-watched film of all time with 236 million views and achieving rare box-office success during a limited theatrical run. The original soundtrack became a massive hit, with songs charting on the Billboard Hot 100, and the film’s word-of-mouth popularity, driven by K-pop fandom and cultural trends resulted in sustained viewership. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement on August 26, in a crossover episode we never saw coming. Swift also announced her new album The Life of a Showgirl, making this her dozenth album. The Venice Film Festival also generated buzz, with Maison Margiela pivoting to bold celebrity dressing by styling icons like Miley Cyrus, Cate Blanchett, and Kim Kardashian, signaling a new strategy for the house’s visibility. Lady Gaga led the buzz for the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (VMA’s) with twelve nominations and the announcement for her first VMA performance since 2020. Sabrina Carpenter released her seventh studio album Man’s Best Friend which was released alongside her second single from the album “Tears” starring Colman Domingo. The album was received with mixed reviews on Carpenter’s lyrical capabilities, album aesthetic, and repetitive sound. Nonetheless the album is predicted to debut at number one selling over 300 million units. The latest season of Love Island went incredibly viral, with fans waiting every day for the new episodes to drop. Fifth Harmony seemingly made a reunion without Camila Cabello. The popular girl group made their return to the stage on August 31 as guest performers at a Jonas Brothers concert in Dallas. The fashion world’s marketing efforts sparked online debate. While the Gap campaign with Katseye was praised for its inclusivity, an American Eagle campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney and the tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great genes” drew widespread backlash and accusations of being tone-deaf. Cardi B’s civil lawsuit was brought up against her by a former security guard, Emani Ellis, who alleged that Cardi B assaulted her in 2018. The rapper displayed obvious annoyance during the trial which was reviewed by fans as funny and a realistic showcase of Cardi’s personality. The internet went into a frenzy after speculation that President Trump is missing or dead. The President hadn’t made a public appearance in days, making everyone assume he had gotten away. The administration must’ve known what the internet was saying as Trump was seen at golf just days ago (alive and well unfortunately). Cracker Barrel’s logo change ignited the conversation of the over-modernization and planned obsolescence in the corporate world.

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