The Most Shocking, Unusual, and WTF Moments of 2025
2025 saw a series of surprising events capturing global attention. In April, Katy Perry became the first artist to sing in space during a Blue Origin flight. She joined an all-female crew including Lauren Sanchez, Gayle King, Amanda Nguyen, Aisha Bowe, and Kerianne Flynn. The crew experienced about four minutes of weightlessness after crossing the Karman line, and Perry kissed the ground upon landing.
July brought two unexpected stories. A kiss cam moment at a Boston Coldplay concert showed Astronomer CEO Andy Byron cuddling with Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot, leading to their resignation after a formal review. A social media clip featured Gwyneth Paltrow as a temporary spokesperson. That same month, American Eagle's campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney sparked debate over race and Western beauty standards with a pun on "genes" versus "jeans." The campaign proved commercially successful as the jeans flew off shelves and the brand's shares rose about 60% since September.
In October, a dramatic daylight heist at the Louvre involved thieves disguised as construction workers using a crane to enter the Galerie d'Apollon. They stole nine pieces of French Crown jewellery, including Napoleon’s necklace and Eugenie’s tiara. Four people were charged, but the loot, valued at approximately £76 million, has yet to be recovered.
In Bangkok, a remarkable incident occurred when 65-year-old Chonthirat Sakulkoo woke up in her coffin moments before her scheduled cremation at Wat Rat Prakhong Tham. Her brother reportedly expressed indifference upon learning she was alive.
February saw former US President Donald Trump share an AI-generated video titled "Trump Gaza," which depicted an idealized Gaza with beaches and skyscrapers and featured surreal appearances by Elon Musk and Benjamin Netanyahu.
September brought media drama as ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live indefinitely following his criticism of Trump. The network reversed the decision approximately a week later, with Kimmel returning accompanied by a tearful monologue.
On the commercial front, Labubu dolls from Pop Mart surged in global popularity. To meet demand, Pop Mart ceased sales at some UK stores. Meanwhile, the UK Intellectual Property Office seized more than £3.5 million worth of counterfeit Labubu toys at borders, with fake Labubus making up 90% of seized counterfeits and failing safety checks.
