2024, much like the year before, was a year that delivered many standout moments in arenas such as sports, entertainment, and, of course, world news. While many of these events were large enough to hit the news, there were smaller ones that gained a huge standing in social media, leading to some unforgettable viral moments. Though there are more than enough events that went viral this year, we managed to nail down 10 that stood out more than the rest.
From Karla Panini getting canceled on a worldwide scaele, to the banda protests in Mazatlán, here are some of the most viral moments of 2024!
‘La Rosa de Guadalupe’ Mirrors Real Life Love Triangle
When it comes to celebrity gossip and drama, it’s hard to say when enough is enough and even more difficult when some references are too obvious, not to mention. Case in point, when the series La Rosa de Guadalupe started a plotline that oddly mirrored the story of Mexican singers and newlyweds Christian Nodal and Ángela Aguilar as well as his past partner Cazzu. While there was no confirmation on if this was deliberate, it was enough to get fans talking.
Colombian Animator Lies About Working on Studio Ghibli Movie
Studio Ghibli is both a beloved studio and one of the few animation studios working in hand-drawn animation, and, as a result, working on one of their films is an immense privilege. However, for illustrator Geraldine Fernández, it was revealed that her claims of working on The Boy and the Heron were untrue, with Fernández making claims that she worked on 25,000 frames of the film to the point where she held a university talk about it. But the truth of the matter instead led to everything from negative fallback, memes, and her official confirmation that she wasn’t involved, making the situation all the more sad and awkward.
When it was revealed that Miss Panama, Italy Mora was to be expelled from the Miss Universe competition, it came as a shock both for her and the many fans she had. From the moment she was no longer in the competition, there were countless rumors that ranged from her getting into a fight to having an unauthorized visit to her boyfriend’s hotel room. According to a statement by Mora, however, the truth was that she didn’t comply and left her room at the direction of her team to get ready for the competition with a team outside of Miss Universe, which is prohibited. Needless to say, no one could’ve expected such a turn of events for the contestant.
Matthew McConaughey Dancing at His Niece’s Quinceañera
When it comes to wholesome actors, few can compare to the calming quality of Matthew McConaughey, and this was proven even more during his niece’s quinceañera, where he shared a sweet moment dancing with her. More than that, he also spent some time fixing her hair and spending quality time with his family. Not only did it show off his moves, but it also gave yet another grounded look at the actor that helped prove that McConaughey’s fame means nothing compared to his family.
Comedian Karla Panini used to work alongside fellow comedian Karla Luna before an affair between Luna’s husband and Panini tore the famous duo apart. Following her death in 2017, Panini was infamous in Mexico. And in 2024, South Korean YouTuber Stephanie Soo helped the moment reach international fame. Panini then delivered a 10-minute reel addressing the secondary cancellation, but instead, she only proved that the past won’t die if the people involved continue to give it attention.
George Lopez and Gabriel Iglesias Mispronounce Pedro Pascal’s Name
Awards shows like the Golden Globes can sometimes run a bit dry without fun hosts to break up the humor in new and clever ways. In the case of George Lopez and Gabriel Iglesias, their efforts ended up being taken a bit too seriously when they purposefully mispronounced Pedro Pascal as Pedro “Pascual.” Though the two funnymen were clearly going for a joke as the actor wasn’t even nominated for the award they were presenting, it didn’t land for everyone and made quite the wave when fans found out.
Karol G Compared to The Lord of the Rings’ Galadriel
Singer/songwriter Karol G’s is talented enough not to need any boosts from anyone or anything else. But when she is compared to the Elven icon Lady Galadriel from The Lord of the Rings, it’s hard not to see the resemblance. She chose an ethereal look for this year’s Met Gala, which was themed to “The Garden of Time,” and it allowed the musician to show her love of fantasy and fairies. Even Karol G herself admitted that the G stood for Galadriel, and she couldn’t be more right.
Taylor Swift Gets More Screen Time Than Isaiah Pacheco After His Touchdown
There’s no denying Taylor Swift’s star power, as she’s known to turn heads during any event she attends. However, this trend took a bit of a turn when a touchdown scored by Kansas City Chief’s running back Isiah Pacheco was given far less screen time compared to Swift’s reaction to it. The late-game touchdown put Pacheco’s team in the lead, and many fans felt the impressive feat deserved far more attention than Swift’s excitement over it all. This makes even more sense since Pacheco has been on a streak since 2023’s Super Bowl win.
Futbol may not be as big in the U.S., but it’s an institution around the world that leads to huge crowd reactions. In the case of the Copa America Final in Miami, a stampede of guests who had no tickets tried to force their way into the stadium, leading to chaos. After the event, CONMEBOL released a statement that one of the reasons this took place was because of Hard Rock Stadium’s security failing to get a handle on the situation. The stadium will also be hosting the World Cup, adding to concerns that a similar situation could happen again.
Banda music is a huge part of Mexican culture and is particularly famous in the city of Mazatlán. However, after a viral video showed the musicians in action, it started a debate from foreigners regarding noise complaints that ended with a condominium complex banning all music on the beach. While initial protests led to a change to these regulations, there are rumors that events haven’t been upheld, with only some musicians being allowed to play during a certain time. As of now, the protests have continued, but no updates on the changes.
