Internet users are exposed to memes every year, and some stand out more than others. While memes started as simplistic drawings accompanied by relatable captions, the term has evolved to encompass different forms of media that are widely distributed and joked about. 

As we reach the final days of 2021, we've compiled a list of some of the most memorable memes that went viral over the past year. Let's take a trip down memory lane.

Bernie Sanders Sitting Pretty In His Mittens

At the beginning of 2021, a memorable Bernie Sanders meme took the internet storm. 

During Joe Biden's inauguration, Sanders was spotted bundled up in a chair while adorning a cute pair of mittens, and internet users soon began cropping the popular politician into numerous different settings. Whether people choose to use a photoshopped image or the original picture, this Sanders meme has made a solid impression on internet culture.

Tessica Brown's Hilariously Bad Predicament

In February, Tessica Brown was catapulted to internet fame over a viral video she made. In a widely circulated series of TikToks, Brown revealed to the world that she decided to use Gorilla Glue on her hair in place of got2b glue. As a result, her hair was glued down to her scalp "for about a month," and she soon became known as the "Gorilla Glue Girl." 

The video caught the attention of social media users everywhere, with stars like Chance the Rapper and Sunny Hostin even chiming in on the conversation. Thankfully, Brown later had her issue resolved by a surgeon named Dr. Michael Obeng, and she even went on to launch a haircare line.

@im_d_ollady

Stiff where????? Ma hair ????????

♬ original sound – Tessica Brown

Oprah Winfrey's Show-Stealing Reactions

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey was a notable moment in 2021, though it was Winfrey's reactions that truly caught the attention of internet users.

The most recognizable Winfrey reaction meme involves a side-by-side of the mogul, with her seemingly expressing disapproval and intrigue in two different screenshots from the interview. Specifically, the meme compares an unfavorable option with a favorable one, though both images can be memed by themselves.

Despite being the interviewer, it looks like Winfrey somewhat stole the show on account of her attention-grabbing reactions!

Anakin Skywalker Sketching Out Padmé Amidala

While it debuted back in 2002, Star Wars: Episode II—Attack of the Clones spawned a meme that went viral in the spring of 2021. The meme in question is a four-panel image featuring Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala. The original scene features the pair discussing the differences between dictatorship and democracy.

Variations of the meme—which is referred to as "For the better, right?"—highlight Amidala's uncertainty and fading optimism in the face of Skywalker's vagueness.

Rihanna Fans Competing With A$AP Rocky

Back in May, A$AP Rocky opened up about his relationship with Rihanna during a GQ interview— memorably referring to her as "my lady" and "the love of my life." Relationship rumors have surrounded the pair for quite some time but his statements confirmed this speculation.

Shortly after the rapper's revelation, the subject became the center of attention for many Twitter users. Fans jokingly argued that they were now competing with A$AP Rocky for Rihanna's love and affection.

The Disgruntled Neighbor

A short video went viral back in June showing a dispute between some neighbors. While the upload is about three minutes long and eventually shows the neighbors getting physical, one early frame, in particular, was turned into a widely circulated meme. 

At the beginning of the video, a woman can is scowling, making hand motions, gesturing behind herself. This moment proved to be a handy meme for many internet users.

The Olympic Anti-Sex Beds

The Tokyo Olympics were held this past summer, and the internet memorably went crazy over the so-called "anti-sex beds." Once news broke that the Olympic Village would feature sustainable beds made out of stiff cardboard, many internet users began speculating that these beds were designed to dissuade the athletes from having sex with one another.

Eventually, people posted pictures of various sleeping arrangements and dubbed them "Olympic anti-sex beds." While the matter was ultimately ruled an erroneous rumor, it produced countless great memes.

The Notorious Milk Crate Challenge

In August, a rather dangerous dare began circulating online: the Milk Crate Challenge. For context, this challenge involved people carefully walking up and back down a pyramid made out of milk crates; in most videos shared on social media, though not all, participants wound up falling to the ground in painful failure.

The Milk Crate Challenge had a definitive hold on the internet this past summer, and floods of new videos and screenshots were constantly available on Twitter. Thankfully, this dangerous trend soon died out, though the content remains.

Kim Kardashian's Met Gala Lewk

The Met Gala, also called the Costume Institute Gala, is an occasion for celebrities to show out with their fashions truly. At the 2021 Gala in September, Kim Kardashian memorably stole the show with her enigmatic look. 

Her sleek, all-black ensemble was accompanied by an opaque face covering. Kardashian's outfit is often memed by being combined with Kendall Jenner's Gala look, which was more traditional. The attention around Kardashian's Met Gala look grew to the point that fans recreated it into a Halloween costume.

The Inescapable "Island Boy" Freestyle

In early October, two Floridian brothers, Flyysoulja and Kodiyakredd, went viral with their "Island Boy" freestyle. They shared their song via TikTok, and many found the anthem catchy. Numerous people soon flooded the internet, quoting the freestyle and having fun mocking the brothers.

Not everyone is a fan, though. Despite rising to internet fame, the Island Boys were recently booed off stage in their home state. 

@andymilonakis

#duet with @kodiyakredd #fyp

♬ original sound – Kodiyakredd

Wendy Osefo's Flawed Lyricism

While Dr. Wendy Osefo is most known for her role on The Real Housewives of Potomac (RHOP), she was memed from a humorous moment on The Wendy Williams Show. During a November interview, Osefo was asked if she's a fan of Nicki Minaj, who notably hosted the RHOP reunion earlier this year.

In response, Osefo proceeded to try and show that she's a true Barb by attempting to quote Minaj's verse from "Monster." However, despite her enthusiastic confidence, Osefo's quote was very off, as she mistakenly rapped, "Pull up in the Sri Lanka." Eventually, the moment began circulating and turned into a humorous quote that gives off an air of false confidence.

@seannooo

mathematician fr

♬ What? Am I? – akil elijah

"The CDC Just Announced..."

Since the start of the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been the subject of various memes. However, this trend was recently revived with newfound enthusiasm thanks to a recent CDC announcement. 

On Monday, the CDC announced that asymptomatic COVID carriers would only have to quarantine for five days instead of the usual ten, as Blavity previously reported. People began slamming the CDC for seemingly prioritizing big business over public health in the following days. People expressed their disagreement with the announcement with "The CDC recommends…" tweets, which feature nonsensical endings to this statement. 

As these internet phenomena enter the rearview mirror, let's reflect on the moments that brought us joy throughout 2021 while gearing up for a new year —and new memes.

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