61 Fun Facts: The 2022 Year of the Slap & The Blue Checkmark Edition

Introduction & Context: 2022 was a year of seismic shifts and unexpected returns. It was the year “The Slap” at the Oscars stunned the world, and Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter changed the social media landscape forever. While the world mourned the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, it also celebrated the first stunning deep-space images from the James Webb Telescope. From the resurgence of 80s synth-pop via Stranger Things to the chaotic launch of “Wordle,” 2022 felt like a year where the post-pandemic world finally found its voice—loud, controversial, and deeply digital.

Top 10 Iconic Moments (USA Focus)

1. The Will Smith Oscar Slap: In March, Will Smith walks on stage and slaps Chris Rock during the live Academy Awards broadcast, creating the most talked-about TV moment in years.
2. The Takeover of Twitter: Elon Musk buys Twitter for $44 billion in October, leading to mass layoffs, the “Blue Checkmark” controversy, and a total platform overhaul.
3. The Death of Queen Elizabeth II: In September, the world watches the end of an era as Britain’s longest-reigning monarch passes away at age 96.
4. The Roe v. Wade Overturn: In June, the Supreme Court strikes down the constitutional right to abortion, sparking massive protests and legal battles across the country.
5. The James Webb Space Telescope Images: NASA reveals the deepest and sharpest infrared images of the distant universe ever taken, captivating the globe.
6. The Invasion of Ukraine: Russia’s invasion in February causes global economic ripples, a refugee crisis, and a wave of American support for Ukraine.
7. The Wordle Craze: A simple daily word game becomes a viral morning ritual for millions before being acquired by The New York Times.
8. The Midterm “Red Wave” That Wasn’t: Despite predictions, Democrats retain control of the Senate, though Republicans take a narrow lead in the House.
9. The Return of Top Gun: Top Gun: Maverick dominates the box office, proving that audiences still crave big-screen, practical-effects spectacles.
10. The Inflation Peak: Americans face the highest inflation in 40 years, with gas prices and grocery bills hitting record highs throughout the summer.

Full 2022 Observational List (USA Life & Style)

11. Technology: The emergence of Lensa AI and “AI Portraits” floods social media with stylized digital avatars.
12. Music: Taylor Swift releases Midnights, becoming the first artist in history to claim the entire Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
13. Cinema: Everything Everywhere All At Once becomes a word-of-mouth sensation, blending multiverses with emotional family drama.
14. Sports: The Golden State Warriors win their 4th NBA title in 8 years, cementing the legacy of Steph Curry.
15. Pop Culture: Stranger Things 4 makes Kate Bush’s 1985 song “Running Up That Hill” a global #1 hit again.
16. Internet: The “Gentleminions” trend sees teenagers wearing suits to movie theaters to watch Minions: The Rise of Gru.
17. Fashion: “Barbiecore” (all-pink everything) and “Coastal Grandmother” (breezy linen and knits) become the top style aesthetics.
18. Gaming: Elden Ring launches in February, dominating the gaming conversation for the entire year with its difficulty and vast world.
19. Automotive: Used car prices finally begin to stabilize after hitting historic peaks due to supply chain shortages.
20. Movies: Avatar: The Way of Water releases 13 years after the original, once again pushing the limits of 3D technology.
21. Technology: Apple introduces the “Dynamic Island” on the iPhone 14 Pro, turning a hardware cutout into a UI feature.
22. Literature: It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover dominates the bestseller lists years after its release, thanks to “BookTok.”
23. Music: Harry Styles’ “As It Was” becomes the longest-running #1 by a solo artist in Billboard history (15 weeks).
24. Gaming: The “Steam Deck” launches, bringing PC gaming into a portable, handheld format.
25. TV: Euphoria Season 2 becomes a cultural lightning rod, dominating Sunday night Twitter (now X) conversations.
26. Sports: The Los Angeles Rams win Super Bowl LVI at their home stadium, led by Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp.
27. Culture: “Quiet Quitting” becomes the buzzword of the year as employees refuse to go “above and beyond” at work.
28. Science: The DART mission successfully crashes a spacecraft into an asteroid, proving we can redirect space rocks.
29. Business: The “Crypto Winter” begins as the FTX exchange collapses, leading to the arrest of Sam Bankman-Fried.
30. Movies: Elvis brings the King back to life, making Austin Butler a major star and Oscar contender.
31. Gaming: God of War Ragnarök concludes the Norse saga on PlayStation with massive critical acclaim.
32. Music: Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti becomes the first Spanish-language album to be nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammys.
33. Lifestyle: “Pickleball” officially becomes the fastest-growing sport in America, with courts popping up in every city.
34. Technology: ChatGPT (v3.5) is released to the public in late November, starting the modern AI revolution overnight.
35. Sports: Serena Williams plays her final professional tennis match at the US Open, retiring as an icon.
36. Politics: The “Inflation Reduction Act” is signed, marking the largest investment in climate action in US history.
37. Law: The Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard trial becomes a televised social media circus, watched by millions daily.
38. Music: Lizzo’s “About Damn Time” becomes a viral TikTok dance and a #1 radio hit.
39. Cinema: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever pays a moving tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman.
40. Tech: BeReal becomes the “it” app of the year, forcing users to take a photo of themselves at a random time each day.
41. Fashion: “Low-rise” jeans and “Butterfly clips” continue the Y2K obsession among Gen Z.
42. TV: House of the Dragon and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power face off in a massive fantasy TV battle.
43. Music: Beyoncé returns with Renaissance, an upbeat house-music tribute to Black and Queer ballroom culture.
44. Business: The “Great Layoffs” begin in the tech sector, with companies like Meta and Amazon cutting thousands of jobs.
45. Lifestyle: “Negroni Sbagliato with Prosecco in it” becomes the drink of the year after an Emma D’Arcy interview goes viral.
46. Books: Spare by Prince Harry is announced, causing immediate headlines months before its 2023 release.
47. Sports: The Houston Astros win the World Series, their first title since the 2017 sign-stealing scandal.
48. Music: Kendrick Lamar returns after 5 years with the deeply personal Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.
49. TV: The Bear makes “Yes, Chef!” a part of the cultural lexicon and sparks a crush on Jeremy Allen White.
50. Movies: Smile uses a clever marketing campaign (creepy people smiling in crowds) to become a horror hit.
51. Environment: Lake Mead hits its lowest water levels since it was filled in the 1930s, exposing long-hidden secrets.
52. Celebrity: Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck finally get married in Las Vegas, 20 years after their first engagement.
53. Music: Glass Animals’ “Heat Waves” hits #1 in the US after a record-breaking 59 weeks on the chart.
54. Health: “Monkeypox” (later renamed Mpox) is declared a public health emergency before being successfully contained.
55. Tech: Meta (Facebook) loses over $230 billion in market value in a single day—the largest drop in US history.
56. Gaming: Stray lets players become a cat in a cyberpunk world, becoming a viral hit on the internet.
57. Movies: The Whale marks the “Brenaissance” as Brendan Fraser makes a massive comeback.
58. Society: The “Corn Kid” (It’s Corn!) becomes the most wholesome and catchy viral video of the year.
59. Legacy: “Gaslighting” is named Word of the Year by Merriam-Webster.
60. Social Media: TikTok’s search engine usage begins to rival Google among Gen Z users.
61. Space: China completes its Tiangong space station, becoming the only country to operate its own station in orbit.

Fun Fact from the World (Outside USA)

In 2022, the FIFA World Cup in Qatar saw Lionel Messi finally lead Argentina to victory in what many consider the greatest final in football history.