In a year that felt like a nonstop rollercoaster, 2025 delivered a series of cultural headlines that spanned from tech bans to celebrity space flights and viral scandals.
Winter
The most talked‑about event of the season was the TikTok ban that never materialized. After months of anticipation, the United States never enforced a nationwide prohibition. President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump both showed no interest in upholding the law, and the ban was eventually shelved. Users flocked to other platforms such as the Chinese‑owned RedNote in protest, and Trump delayed the ban until a September deal transferred majority ownership of TikTok to American investors.
The season’s entertainment highlight was Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show. The rapper headlined the event, performing a rendition of his Grammy‑winning track “Not Like Us.” The show drew an average of 133.5 million viewers, the highest‑watched halftime show ever. Samuel L. Jackson appeared as Uncle Sam, while Serena Williams, SZA, and DJ Mustard made cameo appearances. The performance intensified Drake’s lawsuit against Universal Music Group over the song’s promotion. In October, a federal judge dismissed Drake’s defamation suit, ending the legal feud that had spanned 2024 and early 2025.
Spring
Labubu dolls exploded onto the market, sparking a collectible craze. Sold in blind boxes by Pop Mart, the creepy‑looking plush figures sold out almost instantly. Resellers and counterfeit “Lafufus” flooded the market, and a life‑size Labubu fetched more than $170,000 in China. In California, local police were called to investigate Labubu heists.
In a historic moment, a group of women—including singer Katy Perry, CBS co‑host Gayle King, former journalist Lauren Sánchez, NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, bioastronautics researcher Amanda Nguyen, and film producer Kerianne Flynn—took a brief flight aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. The all‑female crew marked the first female‑only spaceflight since 1963, when Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman in space. The mission generated viral content, notably a meme of Perry holding a daisy while singing “What a Wonderful World.”
Summer
The animated film KPop Demon Hunters turned two fictional groups, Saja Boys and HUNTR/X, into global superstars. Produced by Sony Pictures Animation and released on Netflix, the movie’s songs “Your Idol” and “Golden” topped charts for months and earned several Grammy and Golden Globe nominations. Netflix announced the film as its most‑watched movie of all time and listed it as one of the 35 films eligible for the 98th Academy Awards’ animated feature category.
The season also saw controversy over an American Eagle denim campaign featuring actress Sydney Sweeney. Critics accused the brand of promoting eugenics, while conservatives praised it as a blow to “wokeness.” President Trump called the ad “the ‘HOTTEST’ ad out there.” In a People magazine interview, Sweeney, 28, said, “I’m against hate and divisiveness. In the past my stance has been to never respond to negative or positive press but recently I have come to realize that my silence regarding this issue has only widened the divide, not closed it.”
Parasocial relationships reached a tipping point when fan backlash against Love Island USA and The Summer I Turned Pretty prompted both shows to issue anti‑bullying PSAs. Despite the statements, online sleuths continued to harass contestants for on‑screen actions and actors for their portrayals of fictional characters.
A viral scandal erupted when a married CEO, Andy Byron, and his chief people officer, Kristin Cabot, were caught embracing at a Coldplay concert. The kiss cam’s footage led Chris Martin to speculate an affair, and both Byron and Cabot resigned from Astronomer shortly after.
Fall
Taylor Swift released her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, in October. The 14‑time Grammy winner collaborated with Max Martin and Shellback, producing a dozen tracks that hinted at a romance with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, who also proposed to her with a diamond ring.
The season also saw Jimmy Kimmel Live! pulled off the air by ABC after Kimmel made jokes about the death of right‑wing personality Charlie Kirk. The move sparked free‑speech debates, protests outside Disney’s studios, and threats from celebrities to sever ties. Kimmel returned a week later, criticizing Trump and attempting to smooth tensions over his earlier remarks.
Gen Alpha’s slang “six seven” entered mainstream conversation. Teachers banned the phrase in classrooms, and In‑N‑Out Burger removed the number “67” from its ticket system amid the trend.
In October, Sean “Diddy” Combs’s trial concluded with a sentence of more than four years in prison and five years of supervised release. The seven‑week trial ended with convictions on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution; Diddy was acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.
A daring heist saw thieves steal $102 million worth of French crown jewels from the Louvre on October 19. Using a furniture elevator truck and scooters, the criminals drilled into display cases and fled. The jewels, tied to Empress Marie‑Louise, Empress Eugénie, and 19th‑century queens, remain unrecovered.
Winter, Part 2
David Ellison, 42, solidified his Hollywood presence by acquiring Paramount for $8 billion through Skydance Media. He now battles Netflix over Warner Bros. Discovery’s film and television assets, a move that could reshape the entertainment landscape.
The White House faced repeated criticism for using copyrighted music in social media posts. Olivia Rodrigo slammed the Department of Homeland Security for featuring her song “all american b‑‑‑‑” in a pro‑ICE video. Sabrina Carpenter rebuked the White House for using her track “Juno,” and SZA joined the chorus, accusing the administration of “rage baiting artists for free promo” after it used her song “Big Boy.” The offending video was subsequently deleted.
Key Takeaways
- TikTok’s planned U.S. ban was abandoned after presidents showed no enforcement interest.
- Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl show set a viewership record and settled a long‑running lawsuit.
- Labubu plush dolls sparked a lucrative resale market and police‑involved heists.
- A historic all‑female spaceflight and viral memes highlighted 2025’s cultural milestones.
- Celebrity controversies—from Sweeney’s denim ad to the Coldplay kiss cam—dominated headlines.
- Major legal and financial moves reshaped Hollywood, from Diddy’s conviction to Ellison’s Paramount acquisition.
2025 proved that culture can be as unpredictable as it is influential, with every headline offering a snapshot of society’s shifting priorities and passions.
Hi, I’m Ethan R. Coleman, a dedicated journalist and content creator at newsoflosangeles.com — your trusted source for the latest news, insights, and stories from Los Angeles and beyond.
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