A feud between hip hop\u2019s biggest stars came to a head in January 2025 when Drake filed a defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Kendrick Lamar\u2019s \u201cNot Like Us\u201d diss track, which later went on to win the award for record of the year at the 2025 Grammys.<\/p>\n
Midway through the year, Euphoria actress Sydney Sweeney shot an advertisement for American Eagle wearing her \u201cgood jeans.\u201d It sparked a tense debate about race and beauty standards, which caught the attention of U.S. President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
Weeks later, television host Jimmy Kimmel found himself in the hot\u00a0seat over comments he made about conservative provocateur Charlie Kirk on his late-night ABC talk show. Kimmel was suspended from the network for several days in a decision that prompted criticism over free speech.<\/p>\n
These are among some of the most talked about pop culture moments from 2025.<\/p>\n
Drake sues Universal Music Group over \u201cNot Like Us\u201d diss track<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/e93e10723c416c235a54c1c4f19d1347e967d5e0586b3d6fab620b22d5889340-1024x717.jpg\")
In this combination of images, Kendrick Lamar, left, appears at the MTV Video Music Awards on Aug. 27, 2017, in Inglewood, Calif., and Drake, right, appears at the premiere of the series \u201cEuphoria,\u201d in Los Angeles on June 4, 2019. (AP Photos\/Chris Pizzello, File) <\/p>\n
In January, Drake filed a lawsuit<\/a> alleging that Universal\u00a0Music\u00a0Group\u00a0intentionally published and promoted Kendrick Lamar\u2019s \u201cNot Like Us\u201d diss track despite knowing that it contained false and defamatory allegations against\u00a0the Canadian superstar and suggested listeners should resort to vigilante justice. The track tarnished his reputation and decreased the value of his brand, the suit said.<\/p>\n The track went on to win record of the year at the 2025 Grammy Awards.<\/p>\n UMG, the parent record label for both artists, denied the allegations and the suit was eventually tossed<\/a> by a federal judge in October. After the decision Drake\u2019s legal team said in a statement: \u201cWe intend to appeal today\u2019s ruling, and we look forward to the Court of Appeals reviewing it.\u201d<\/p>\n Carrie Underwood sings at Trump\u2019s inauguration<\/p>\n Country music star Carrie Underwood performed at Donald Trump\u2019s second inauguration<\/a> in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 20. An audio mishap forced the beloved American Idol winner to perform an acapella version of \u201cAmerica the Beautiful\u201d following a brief period of awkward silence.<\/p>\n Beyonce finally wins Album of the Year<\/p>\n In February, Beyonce took home the top prize at the 2025 Grammy Awards. She won album of the year <\/a>for her eighth studio album, \u201cCowboy Carter,\u201d following decades of snubs in the category.<\/p>\n She was joined on stage by her eldest daughter, Blue Ivy.<\/p>\n Kendrick Lamar performs at Super Bowl LIX<\/p>\n Rapper Kendrick Lamar performed at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans<\/a> in February, becoming the first solo hip hop artist to do so. He was joined on stage by Drake\u2019s rumoured ex-girlfriend, singer-songwriter SZA. The pair performed their hit song \u201cLuther.\u201d<\/p>\n Labubu craze hits Canada<\/p>\n \u201cLabubu<\/a>,\u201d the collectable plush toy became a global viral sensation early in 2025 with Beijing-based retailer Pop Mart opening its first Canadian store in Richmond, B.C. over the summer.<\/p>\n The typical price ranges from $30 to $50 for standard blind boxes, with some specialty dolls fetching more than $100.<\/p>\n Katy Perry, Gayle King and others fly into space<\/p>\n Jeff Bezos\u2019\u00a0Blue Origin\u00a0launched his\u00a0fiancee Lauren Sanchez\u00a0into space in April 2025 with an all-female celebrity crew<\/a> that included\u00a0Katy Perry\u00a0and\u00a0Gayle King.<\/p>\n It ignited an era of\u00a0space tourism<\/a>, where more of the\u00a0rich and famous\u00a0than ever before \u2014 or lucky and well-connected \u2014 can enter the\u00a0zero-gravity <\/a>realm traditionally dominated by\u00a0professional astronauts.<\/p>\n Lady Gaga Breaks the record for highest-attended concert by a female artist<\/p>\n Lady Gaga\u00a0gave a free concert in May 2025<\/a> in front of 2.1 million fans who poured onto Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro for the biggest show of her career.<\/p>\n She performed her classic hits, including \u201cPoker Face\u201d and \u201cAlejandro,\u201d switching between an array of dresses including one with the colors of the Brazilian flag.<\/p>\n Earlier that day, two people were arrested in connection with a thwarted plot to detonate explosives<\/a> at the concert. Felipe Cury, secretary of the Rio police, said authorities believed the suspects sought to target Brazil\u2019s LGBTQ+ community.<\/p>\n Trial of Sean \u2018Diddy\u2019 Combs<\/p>\n Hip hop mogul Sean \u2018Diddy\u2019 Combs stood trial<\/a> in spring 2025 for multiple charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.<\/p>\n He was ultimately convicted in July<\/a> for two counts of Transportation to engage in prostitution and was acquitted of all other charges. He was later sentenced to 50 months in federal prison and is expected to be released in February 2028.<\/p>\n The ordeal was also the subject of a four-episode docuseries produced by fellow rapper 50 Cent. It was released on Netflix in December.<\/p>\n Canada\u2019s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander named NBA MVP<\/p>\n Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named the NBA\u2019s most valuable player<\/a> in June.<\/p>\n The 26-year-old from Hamilton is the second Canadian to receive the award, following Steve Nash\u2019s wins in 2005 and 2006.<\/p>\n Anna Wintour steps down as Vogue\u2019s editor-in-chief<\/p>\n Anna Wintour<\/a>\u00a0announced plans to step down as Vogue editor-in-chief<\/a> in June after nearly 40 years in the role. She remains chief content officer for Cond\u00e9 Nast\u00a0and global editorial director of American Vogue and the magazine\u2019s 27 other editions.<\/p>\n In September, she named Chloe Malle<\/a>, the daughter of actor Candice Bergen and the late French director Louis Malle, as her successor.<\/p>\n Jet2 Holidays memes<\/p>\n Over the summer Jet2 Holidays, the British budget tour operator, went viral with a 30-second advertisement that features the hook from singer Jess Glynne\u2019s 2015 song \u201cHold My Hand.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The audio has soundtracked more than a million TikTok videos and has accompanied dozens of memes.<\/p>\n Coldplay kiss cam drama<\/p>\n A routine moment of crowdwork at a Coldplay concert went viral in July when a couple tried to avoid the spotlight after they were caught hugging on the jumbotron<\/a>. Internet sleuths quickly figured out that they were the CEO and chief people officer of a little-known tech company called Astronomer.<\/p>\n The snippet of video set the internet alight, fueling a wave of memes and drawing attention to the erosion of privacy in public spaces.<\/p>\n CEO Andy Byron ultimately resigned from his position<\/a> days later.<\/p>\n Stephen Colbert\u2019s \u2018Late Show\u2019 canceled<\/p>\n CBS announced in July that it is canceling \u201cThe Late Show With Stephen Colbert<\/a>\u201d in 2026, shuttering a decades-old TV institution in a changing media landscape and removing from air one of U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s most prominent and persistent late-night critics.<\/p>\n CBS said \u201cLate Show\u201d was canceled for financial reasons, not for content. But the timing \u2014 three days after Colbert criticized the\u00a0settlement between Trump and Paramount Global<\/a>, parent company of CBS, over a \u201c60 Minutes\u201d story \u2014 led two U.S. senators to publicly question the motives.<\/p>\n Sydney Sweeney\u2019s \u201cgood jeans\u201d<\/p>\n U.S. fashion retailer American Eagle Outfitters wanted to make a splash with its advertising campaign starring 27-year-old actor\u00a0Sydney Sweeney. The ad blitz included \u201cclever, even provocative language\u201d and was \u201cdefinitely going to push buttons,\u201d the company\u2019s chief marketing officer told trade media outlets.<\/p>\n Titled \u201cSydney Sweeney has great jeans,\u201d the campaign sparked a debate about race<\/a>, Western beauty standards, and\u00a0the backlash<\/a>\u00a0to \u201cwoke\u201d American politics and culture. Most of the negative reception focused on videos that used the word \u201cgenes\u201d instead of \u201cjeans\u201d when discussing the blonde-haired, blue-eyed actor\u00a0known for the HBO series<\/a>\u00a0\u201cEuphoria\u201d and \u201cWhite Lotus.\u201d<\/p>\n Some critics saw the wordplay as a nod, either unintentional or deliberate, to eugenics, a discredited theory that held humanity could be improved through selective breeding for certain traits.<\/p>\n Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau ignite dating rumours<\/p>\n Dating rumours between pop star Katy Perry and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau began to swirl in July after the pair were spotted on a dinner date in Montreal during one of the singer\u2019s tour stops in the city. Later,\u00a0a viral photo appeared to show the pair kissing aboard a yacht<\/a>\u00a0off the coast of Santa Barbara, Cal. <\/p>\n They were also seen\u00a0hand-in-hand during an outing<\/a>\u00a0in Paris, France in October to celebrate Perry\u2019s 41st birthday.\u00a0<\/p>\n Victoria Mboko claims historic title at 2025 National Bank Open<\/p>\n 18-year-old Victoria Mboko defeated Japan\u2019s Naomi Osaka in August to capture the women\u2019s title<\/a> at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers.<\/p>\n It was Mboko\u2019s first tour-level title, coming in just the seventh main draw of her career. She\u2019s now the second-youngest player in the Open era (since 1968) to beat four Grand Slam champions in a single tournament.<\/p>\n Following the victory, the Toronto native climbed to No. 18 in the world rankings after starting the year outside the top 300, making her the top-ranked Canadian woman.<\/p>\n Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce get engaged<\/p>\n Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce broke the internet with the news of their engagement<\/a> in August.<\/p>\n In a five-photo joint post on Instagram, the superstar singer and football player revealed their engagement, the fairytale culmination of a courtship\u00a0that for two years<\/a>\u00a0has thrilled and fascinated millions around the world, but especially Swifties, the pop star\u2019s\u00a0enormous and ardent fan base.<\/p>\n \u201cYour English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,\u201d the caption read, accompanied by an emoji of a dynamite stick.<\/p>\n ABC briefly suspended Jimmy Kimmel\u2019s late-night show<\/p>\n ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel\u2019s late-night show<\/a> in September after comments that he made about\u00a0Charlie Kirk\u2019s killing<\/a>\u00a0led a group of ABC-affiliated stations to say it would not air the show and provoked some ominous comments from a top federal regulator.<\/p>\n He was reinstated in less than<\/a> a week following public outcry, and used his opening monologue on his first night back to thank his supporters and talk about the importance of free speech.<\/p>\n Canada bans Irish rap group Kneecap from entering the country<\/p>\n The Canadian government banned the Irish-language rap group\u00a0Kneecap\u00a0from entering the country<\/a> in September, saying the group has endorsed political violence and terrorism.<\/p>\n Liberal MP Vince Gasparro, parliamentary secretary for combating crime, released a social media video announcing the ban in response to allegations that Kneecap had been inciting violence and glorifying terrorism.<\/p>\n The Canada Border Services Agency and the Prime Minister\u2019s Office later revealed they were not involved in Gasparro\u2019s announcement<\/a> and that he acted alone.<\/p>\n Kneecap says it has instructed their lawyers to seek legal action against Gasparro for comments that are \u201cwholly untrue and deeply malicious.\u201d<\/p>\n Canadian comic Veronika Slowikowska joins the cast of \u201cSaturday Night Live\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-2194384042-1024x685.jpg\")
Carrie Underwood performs \u201cAmerica the Beautiful\u201d as U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance listen at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Julia Demaree Nikhinson \u2013 Pool\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ee1e5bc14a5a7c2497ebfc7b4c5749a14711882a653e028efc316c8689fe1a22-1024x682.jpg\")
Beyonce accepts the award for album of the year for \u201cCOWBOY CARTER during the 67th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Los Angeles. Blue Ivy Carter looks on from right.(AP Photo\/Chris Pizzello) <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CP174124445-1024x683.jpg\")
SZA, left, and Kendrick Lamar perform during halftime of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo\/Frank Franklin II)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-2248759770-1024x683.jpg\")
Labubu toys for sale at a souvenir stall on 30th November 2025 in London, United Kingdom. (photo by Mike Kemp\/In Pictures via Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1eac0faf104e1cadbbe8c6f3ca80e845549777eed7512bb3233cd23bfcd56abc-1024x682.jpg\")
This image provided by Blue Origin shows, first row, seated, from left: Lauren Sanchez and Kerianne Flynn and standing in back from left: Amanda Nguyen, Katy Perry, Gayle King and Aisha Bowe in West Texas. (Blue Origin via AP) <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-2213025569-1024x683.jpg\")
Fireworks are seen in the sky during the end of the US pop star Lady Gaga\u2019s free concert at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on May 3, 2025. (Photo by STRINGER \/ AFP) (Photo by STRINGER\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4684f0bc75d3d312b524e870a9aa6b4206eecdd0a1cfbb749e6e4d5f763e1e3a-1024x771.jpg\")
Sean Diddy Combs listens during opening statements on the first day of trial in Manhattan federal court, Monday, May 12, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1ee6d0728bda648693061bc058b893cc3f252ced552cb86b1b71a1ab798002ae-1024x682.jpg\")
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, center, holds up the MVP trophy as he celebrates with his team after they won the NBA basketball championship with a Game 7 victory against the Indiana Pacers Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo\/Julio Cortez) <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4fb38092d6d2e1ac7e3095b9e459a8a28a2e360e669d72768b867140cffb0a7d-1024x682.jpg\")
Vogue editor Anna Wintour attends The Metropolitan Museum of Art\u2019s Costume Institute benefit gala on May 6, 2019, in New York. (Photo by Charles Sykes\/Invision\/AP, File) <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-2178618017-1024x704.jpg\")
A Boeing 737-8MG from Jet2 prepares for takeoff on the runway at Barcelona Airport in Barcelona, Spain, on January 11, 2024. (Photo by Joan Valls\/Urbanandsport\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Chris](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/invictus-games-vancouver-1024x576.jpg\")
Chris Martin of Coldplay performs during Coldplay\u2019s Music Of The Spheres World Tour in Navi Mumbai on January 18, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/AP, Rajanish Kakade<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-2224898876-1024x683.jpg\")
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert during Thursday\u2019s July 17, 2025 show. (Photo by Scott Kowalchyk\/CBS via Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-2228080243-1024x683.jpg\")
A window display of actress Sydney Sweeney is seen on a window of an American Eagle store on August 01, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1765791672_507_Untitled-design-2025-12-06T110822.622-1024x576.jpg\")
Popstar Katy Perry posted a selfie with former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Dec. 6, 2025. (Instagram\/Katy Perry)<\/p>\n![\"Victoria](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/mboko-2-1024x583.jpg\")
Victoria Mboko of Canada celebrates her win over Marie Bouzkova of Czechia during third round tennis action at the National Bank Open in Montreal, Thursday, July 31, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Christinne Muschi<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/4dac4945ef2652140ab799861de1f89ea3aae42ecc6333c5a261fb983bf4b1a3-1024x682.jpg\")
Travis Kelce, left, and Taylor Swift pose after the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis, File) <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/107471610bbbf33f8a3288907b9b7127107391cc1e2b1292afe1224156f145b2-1024x682.jpg\")
This image released by Disney shows Jimmy Kimmel hosting his late night show \u201cJimmy Kimmel Live!\u201d in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025. (Randy Holmes\/Disney via AP) <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/7a4aa3f537d7eef7a2be4cd8aa159da7691890212dd0967d6894219ab8aab8f2-1024x682.jpg\")
Naoise O Caireallain, left, and Liam Og of the hip hop trio Kneecap perform during the Glastonbury Festival in Worthy Farm, Somerset, England, Saturday, June 28, 2025. (Scott A Garfitt\/Invision\/AP) <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-2240210766-1024x683.jpg\")
Veronika Slowikowska during the \u201cPsychic Talk Show\u201d sketch on Saturday, October 11, 2025 \u2014 (Photo by: Will Heath\/NBC via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-2251215168-1024x685.jpg\")
John Cena celebrates with the Undisputed WWE Championship and the World Heavyweight Championship during Saturday Night\u2019s Main Event at Capital One Arena on December 13, 2025 in Washington DC. (Photo by Georgiana Dallas\/WWE via Getty Images)<\/p>\n