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From Bernie Sanders And Lawyer Cat To The Suez Canal — Here Are The Best Memes Of 2021

OK, maybe the year wasn’t a total loss.

by Cianna Garrison
Photo by Rafa Elias/Moment/Getty Images

As the year comes to a close, refresh your memory (and give yourself a laugh) with a look back on the best memes of 2021.

From the infamous lawyer cat to the ship that got stuck in the Suez Canal, you can’t help but laugh at the ~eventful~ goings-on of the past year.

CHRIS DELMAS/AFP/Getty Images

Bernie Sanders’ Outfit — January 2021

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) became an iconic meme when he showed up to President Joe Biden’s inauguration wearing a Burton jacket and mittens.

“You Had To Be There” — February 2021

This nostalgic meme trend highlights “you just had to be there” moments, like the greatness that was mid-2000s Disney Channel shows.

“I’m Not A Cat” — February 2021

When attorney Rod Ponton appeared on Zoom looking like a cute kitten on Feb. 9, Judge Roy B. Ferguson of Texas' 394th Judicial District Court asked him to turn it off.

The hilarious mishap resulted in the “I’m here live, I’m not a cat” memes.

The Weeknd’s Super Bowl Maze — February 2021

As viewers watched The Weeknd’s Super Bowl performance, there was one part in particular that became the perfect meme: the mirror maze.

Oprah Reactions — March 2021

Oprah was visibly in shock by some of the revelations during the March 7 tell-all interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It’s ideal meme material for just about anything.

Suez Canal Ship — March 2021

On March 23, a 1,300-foot-long cargo ship named Ever Given ran aground and became lodged in Egypt's Suez Canal due to a dust storm.

The unexpected event became a meme for getting stuck, having a bad day, and a myriad of other relatable jokes.

“Just Because You’re Vaccinated” — April 2021

This meme cropped up as adults in the U.S. were getting vaccinated, and it’s basically an excuse to reference the plot of your favorite movies.

Versailles Run — May 2021

When TikTok launched the Versailles Run augmented reality (AR) filter, it became the perfect meme material for people running from their problems or running to hear the latest gossip.

Miranda Cosgrove iCarly — June 2021

As the iCarly reboot premiere date neared, Cosgrove posted a an updated photo of a memorable moment from the show where she researched how to make her brother Drake think he was sick — and the pics started circulating as memes.

“Did It Hurt When” — August 2021

A play on the cringe-worthy pickup line, “Did it hurt when” memes are all about people’s high expectations versus the disappointing reality.

“Unfollowing Now” — September 2021

A clever take on people who unfollow public figures after a scandal, the “unfollowing now” memes riffs on the plots of fan-favorite movies (e.g. Ratatouille), shows, and more.

Instagram Down — October 2021

The great Facebook (Meta) server error of 2021 left people without access to Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp for hours.

It was a meme party on Twitter as users waited for the apps to get up and running.

Red Flags — October 2021

In early October, memes inspired by red flag warnings unexpectedly became a hilarious breath of fresh air.

People shared everything from jokes about long text messages to small popcorn truthers and more.

The Immortal Snail — October 2021

If you were confused by those snail memes that hit TikTok, they’re about a “snail assassin” chasing you down after you accept millions of dollars and immortality in exchange for the snail’s constant pursuit of you, naturally.

“We Used To Be A Country” — December 2021

In early December, the ~it~ meme was all about your faves back in the day.

From the perfect Disney wand swoosh to the cinematic universe of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, these memes unlock core childhood memories.