Apparently, memes broke the Internet in 2014.
Famous cat stock dropped, but Photoshopping hit an all-time high this year. Major events like the Winter Olympics and World Cup meant billions of people had their eyes set on the same thing, making virality ripe to spread. And everyday people (and lizards) found unexpected Internet fame while we all watch at Kim Jong-Un.
15. Leo DiCaprio Runs Topless
Leonardo DiCaprio still hasn't won an Oscar, but he did win the Internet for one day in July. A photograph of the usually serious actor wielding a squirt gun while running topless through Italy made Leo king of the Photoshop treatment.
14. Twitter Sign Bunny
Twitter expressed their feelings through a sassy bunny in September. The ASCII art rabbit first started in Brazil in 2013, but resurfaced in 2014 as a passive aggressive, yet adorable protester. Everyone created their own Sign Bunny and we all learned how much media people on Twitter love an inside joke.
13. Luis Suarez Bite
Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez took a bite out of the World Cup -- and Italian player Giorgio Chiellini. With less than 12 minutes of time left on the clock in a tied game, Suarez tried to gain an advantage by locking down, teeth first on Chiellini's shoulder. Suarez tested negative for rabies, but positive for meme-ability.
12. Ashley Wagner's Angry Face
American figure skater Ashley Wagner didn't win a medal at the Sochi Olympics, but she did inspire the most memorable meme of the Games. That's basically like winning bronze.
Wagner couldn't hide her disappointment during the team skating event when judges awarded her a score lower than she expected.
11. Unimpressed Lizard
A tiny lizard looking less than enthused understood the true meaning of "meh" in 2014. The Unimpressed Lizard meme started on Reddit in July when a man shared a photo of the dismayed reptile sent by his girlfriend. Soon, Unimpressed Lizard was expressing his indifference to life all over the Internet.
10. Jack White's Resting Bitchface
The Chicago Cubs haven't won a World Series in more than 100 years -- and that doesn't please Jack White. While attending a game at Wrigley Field in July, cameras caught the rocker making a sourface. Jack White's Resting Bitchface ensured we're never going to be friends with Jack.
9. Odell Beckham Jr.'s Epic Catch
New York Giants rookie Odell Beckham Jr. and his super-glue hands had Photoshoppers grabbing the chance to give him meme treatment.
8. Pharrell's Hat
At the 2014 Grammy Awards, Pharrell wore a hat large enough to fit Miley Cyrus and her wrecking ball inside. The Vivian Westwood hat looked like something that belonged on a park ranger with a side job at Arby's. The oversized hat became one of the most recurring jokes of 2014. Next year, let,s stick to berets, famous people.
7. Sexy Mugshot Guy
Jeremy Meeks broke hearts and the law in 2014. The 30-year-old convict had the Internet pining for bad boys when the Stockton Police Department posted his mugshot on Facebook in June. The photo inspired the #FelonCrushFriday and head shakes from mothers everywhere.
6. Sochi Problems
Spending a record-breaking $51 billion dollars on Olympic facilities and venues did little to guarantee a problem-free Games in Sochi. Beyond political issues, Sochi 2014 was plagued with complaints from visitors who posted photos of yellow water, broken doors and double toilets on social media using the hashtag #SochiProblems.
5. Kim Jong-Un Visits a Lube Factory
Kim Jong-un visited a lube factory and spawned the smoothest meme of the year. In early August, a state news agency released photos of the North Korean dictator smiling in delight at the Chonji Lubricant Factory. The absurdity of the photo shoot made the meme-making almost too easy. Almost.
4. Kim Kardashian's Paper Magazine Cover
Kim Kardashian and Paper magazine took a crack at breaking the Internet with a cover photo of the reality star's oil-slathered derriere. Love her or really, really hate her, the Internet couldn't stop talking about and spoofing the photograph.
3. "But That's None of My Business" Kermit
Kermit the Frog sipping tea is the best way to passively insult something. In June, the "But That's None of My Business" Kermit meme emerged on Reddit, Twitter and Tumblr. It's not easy bein' green, but it's easy to throw shade when a Muppet helps you.
2. Apparently Kid
Fails and flubs rule local news broadcasts, but sometimes, a little kid shows up to treat viewers to adorableness on the tens. Five-year-old Noah Ritter found Internet fame after an interview with WNEP Scranton in August. Noah's fondness for the word "apparently," combined with candidness made him the cutest meme of 2014 (sorry, Sexy Mugshot Guy).
1. Alex From Target
The Internet asked a handsome Target employee named Alex to be their boyfriend in early November. The #AlexFromTarget meme had Twitter swooning after a photo of the Texas teenager bagging at the retailer circulated online. If you had any doubt that teenage girls run the Internet, Alex ruined that delusion.
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