SINGAPORE (DEC 27): Here are the top three things that broke the internet this year:

Keanu Reeves: The internet’s boyfriend

How does one explain the internet’s renewed fervour for Keanu Reeves? The 55-year-old, who has been a fixture of Hollywood’s A-list since the 1990s, had a real “moment” this year. He had a slew of successful projects, sure — appearing as a parodied version of himself in the rom-com Always Be My Maybe, and in Toy Story 4, John Wick 3 and the hugely popular video game Cyberpunk 2077 — but why was he suddenly dubbed the internet’s boyfriend?

Perhaps the answer lies in the stories of his kindness that flooded the internet, as well as a viral video where, when asked “What happens when we die, Keanu Reeves?” by talk show host Stephen Colbert, he answered “I know that the ones who love us will miss us.” Cue the “awwwwwws”.

Baby Yoda

Step aside, Baby Groot, here comes Baby Yoda. The first Star Wars live-action TV series, which comes exclusively to Disney’s new streaming service, Disney+, has of course been eagerly anticipated, but a character that resembles a much younger version of Jedi master Yoda — Baby Yoda — has really got the internet going crazy. It spawned an entire flood of memes with Baby Yoda just being absolutely adorable, and is perhaps the sole reason to subscribe to Disney+ (when it comes to Singapore, that is!).

 

Bubble tea

Sure, bubble tea has been popular for a while now, but it got really, really popular this year. And we mean, really popular. It was everywhere. Earrings and accessories have been made of it. Rice boiled with  “pearls” became a thing. Memes were generated, implying that Asians were all, as a collective, obsessed with bubble tea (it is true). Despite the health warnings and sugar levels of this inexplicably delicious drink, more bubble tea stores popped up this year. Flavour combinations also became more and more creative, from durians to alcohol-laced bubble tea. The love for bubble tea has led to the creation of The Bubble Tea Factory, where enthusiasts can make their own concoctions.