Angelina Handris

Trends and newsworthy events were plentiful in the summer of 2023. Movies were released, controversies arose, and the internet had something to say about it all.

Trends and newsworthy events were plentiful in the summer of 2023. Movies were released, controversies arose, and the internet had something to say about it all. From Barbenheimer to purple milkshakes to Taylor Swift, here are the biggest events of the summer. 

Barbenheimer

The release of Greta Gerwig’s highly anticipated film “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” on July 21, 2023 became something of a cultural phenomenon, due to the contrasting atmospheres of the two movies. The bright, childlike aura of “Barbie” offset by the bleakness of “Oppenheimer” was found to be rather comical, since the films hit theaters on the same day. Memes about the film releases flooded social media. “Barbie” grossed $155 million opening weekend, making it the largest debut ever for a female director. “Oppenheimer” opened at $82.4 million. 

McDonald’s Grimace Birthday Shake 

From June 12 to July 9, McDonald’s served a limited-time shake to commemorate the birthday of Grimace, a purple, blob-shaped mascot that once appeared in McDonald’s advertisements. The lavender beverage became the catalyst for a morbid social media trend. Users would film themselves trying the shake, and seconds later the video would cut to the user pretending to be dead, usually with the shake spilled within the frame. “I liked the videos, but never actually tried the shake,” Gabi Rutherford, sophomore, said.

OceanGate Titan Submersible Implosion 

In July, a tourism expedition hosted by OceanGate sent five people into the Atlantic Ocean to view the 111-year-old wreckage of the RMS Titanic. Each person paid $250,000 for the trip. The submersible imploded during the trip, and all five voyagers were killed, including company CEO Stockton Rush. After the incident, OceanGate suspended all operations completely. Memes about this event also ran rampant on social media, mocking the way that the wealth and privilege of those on the submersible backfired. Many of them combined the two movies into one entity, such as creating a movie poster with content from both films. 

Lizzo Misconduct Allegations 

“Truth Hurts” singer Lizzo, once known for championing body positivity and female empowerment, was sued by former employees for sexual harassment, discrimination, assault, and false imprisonment. Several backup dancers alleged Lizzo made unprofessional comments toward them and pressured them into partaking in activities they were not comfortable with. Lizzo has since denied the allegations. 

The Eras Tour 

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour was in full swing during the summer. Clips from Swift’s concerts were all over the internet, notably one of Swift yelling at a security guard who was getting too rough with a fan during the chorus of “Bad Blood.” A Taylor Swift concert in Seattle was also so uproarious that it caused seismic activity, and according to Smithsonian Magazine, it registered as a 2.3 magnitude earthquake. Sofia Gomez, senior, attended the tour. “It was the best experience of my life,” Gomez said.

Twitter Logo Changes to X 

The original logo of the social media platform Twitter, a white bird on a blue background, was changed this summer. Although the site is currently still called Twitter, the logo was rebranded courtesy of Twitter executive Elon Musk, who recently purchased the site for $44 billion. The change drew criticism and ridicule from users. 

Colleen Ballinger’s Response to Allegations 

YouTube personality and comedian Colleen Ballinger, better known as Miranda Sings, was accused of talking inappropriately to young fans in group chats. Ballinger’s response was unorthodox, as she uploaded a ten-minute video playing ukulele and singing, vehemently denying the claims on her YouTube channel. This video was widely satirized and mocked online, particularly Ballinger’s line “I’m not a groomer, I’m just a loser.”