If 2020 was the year of “unprecedented times,” 2025 is shaping up to be the year of “What The Friday?” — literally. Social media users have pointed out that the first three days of 2025 were Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, forming the acronym “WTF.” This quirky calendar coincidence has sparked a wave of memes and conspiracy theories, with some humorously predicting a repeat of 2020’s chaos. It’s already May, and while most are concerned with the end of school, the rest of us are concerned with making sure our summers don’t go as unpredictable as this year has gone, which so far seems as unpredictable as a cat in a zipper shirt. Let’s take a look at some of the craziness this year has brought, and what exactly the craziness means.
Speaking of cats, Australian author Kate Forster recently stumbled upon the Rockmans Excelina Cat Print Top, a fashion item so bizarre it could only be described as “heinous.” Retailing at $19.99, the shirt features a cat peeking out from an open zipper, prompting Forster to compare the experience of discovering it to “licking a toad.” Social media users were equally amused and horrified, with some admitting they’d buy the shirt for its comedic value.
Meanwhile, in the world of cinema, “A Minecraft Movie” has turned theaters into chaotic block parties. Fans have been shouting “chicken jockey!” during screenings, a nod to a popular in-game character, one trend that our very own Matteo Eroy participated in. The trend escalated to the point where some theaters had to call in security, and even Jack Black made a surprise appearance to calm the crowd.
In the realm of sports, UFC fighter Ian Machado Garry took a sweet approach to mind games by sending his rival, Jack Della Maddalena, a bag of peanut M&Ms — his favorite treat — via his two-year-old son. The gesture was a playful attempt to sabotage Della Maddalena’s weight-cutting regime ahead of UFC 315, and it was taken in good humor by all parties involved.
On the celebrity front, NFL star Travis Kelce has been sporting a noticeable tan, leading his mother, Donna Kelce, to question his recent whereabouts during a Mother’s Day episode of their podcast. Travis played coy, attributing his tan to being “everywhere” and jokingly mentioning his “cubicle.” Speculation is rife that his travels with girlfriend Taylor Swift might be the reason behind his sun-kissed glow.
However, the global stage has been anything but lighthearted. President Donald Trump’s administration has reignited trade tensions, imposing sweeping tariffs on imports from China, Canada, and Mexico. These measures have led to retaliatory tariffs from affected countries, disrupting global supply chains and increasing consumer prices.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has warned that these trade policies are slowing economic growth in the United States and worldwide, while also reigniting inflation. The OECD projects U.S. economic growth to slow to 2.2% in 2025 and 1.6% in 2026, with global growth also expected to decline.
In April, global stock markets experienced a significant downturn, with the S&P 500, Nasdaq Composite, and Dow Jones all declining sharply. This crash was triggered by the introduction of new tariff policies by President Trump, leading to widespread panic selling and marking the largest global market decline since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic-induced crash.
As if economic turmoil weren’t enough, Columbia University became a flashpoint for domestic unrest. The university called in the NYPD to dismantle a pro-Palestinian sit-in at the Butler Library, resulting in approximately 75 arrests and sparking intense debate about free speech and institutional responses to activism.
In summary, 2025 has been a year of contrasts—starting with quirky memes and fashion faux pas, and evolving into serious economic and political challenges. It’s been a rollercoaster ride, reminding us that while we can laugh at the absurdities, we must also grapple with the complexities of our world.
So yes, 2025 began with calendar jokes, Minecraft mayhem, and questionable cat fashion—but before we could even finish laughing, the world hit us with a full-blown tariff telenovela, an economic slump, and campus unrest that’s anything but academic. What started as a meme-worthy “WTF” year quickly reminded us that real-world plot twists don’t always come with popcorn. From chicken jockeys to trade shocks, from tan lines to economic fault lines, this year has been the definition of unpredictable — like trying to ride a rollercoaster in flip-flops. Buckle up, folks. If the rest of 2025 has anything to say about it, we’re not even at the top of the loop yet.
