A brief overview of what is currently trending in news, culture, and/or trending hashtags and formats.
Celtics: The New York Knicks defeated the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of their second-round series on Monday night.
Rihanna: The music icon is pregnant with her third child.
#TeacherAppreciationWeek: People are celebrating the teachers who have changed their lives.
A deeper dive into a subject that is impacting culture on a macro level, beyond just the social space.
2025 Met Gala Highlights
What It Is: The 2025 Met Gala took place on Monday and once again saw iconic fashion wins, celebrity encounters, and a slew of memes–both new and old. This year’s theme, “Tailored for You,” which centered on the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s spring exhibition “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” celebrated Black Dandyism and the historical significance of using fashion for self-expression, resistance, and celebration. Its emphasis on menswear and suiting produced fan-favorite looks from stars including Colman Domingo, Diana Ross, and more whose interpretations stood out while honoring the night’s theme. From outfit changes to baby bump reveals, this year’s event also ignited social media conversations among those critiquing red carpet looks from the couch and recirculating classic Met Gala memes (see: Jason Derulo falling down the stairs). Key conversation themes this year included fanbases poking fun at their idols not being in attendance and fashion enjoyers pointing out which celebrities attempted to break up the monotony that male stars, in particular, have been guilty of in previous years. While some proactively declared people have “stopped caring” about the Met Gala, others savored the opportunity to see their favorite stars intentionally engage with fashion’s biggest night.
Brand Takeaway: Aside from a handful of red carpet surprises, online conversations surrounding this year’s Met Gala largely echoed those from years past, and brands should digitally show up to trending events prepared with this historical knowledge while also staying nimble to react to real-time moments. In 2025, it’s no longer impactful to place your product on a stock image of a carpet filled with camera flashes, and sitting out might be best if you don’t have a truly ownable way to cut through the flurry of conversation. Above all else, brands should engage with care and recognize the cultural significance of this year’s Met Gala theme when engaging with memes or conversations that may continue to linger on social feeds.
Examples: 1, 2, 3
Four must-click links that crossed our feeds today.
An AI-generated image of Katy Perry at the Met Gala has circulated for the second year in a row 📸
Charli xcx has changed the ‘BRAT’ album cover on streaming platforms 💿
Skype has shut down after 22 years 💻
Beyoncé has replaced the Sphere reference in her ‘Cowboy Carter’ tour visuals 🎟️
Want to subscribe? Reach out to culturetaskforce@substack.com.