Pop Culture Mondays/1.25.21
By: Brooke Hammerling
Tags: Amanda Gorman, Pop Culture, Bernie Sanders, Jojo Siwa, Inauguration

The picture that launched a BILLION memes

FIRST PLACE, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. SECOND PLACE? THE BIGGEST MEME IN THE WORLD!

I don’t know man…if I had the choice of being the leader of the free world or the most popular meme of all time, it would be hard to choose. I mean as the most popular meme you bring joy to the world and you don’t have to do anything. ANYWAY, I thought about how I would cover this all week because the memes kept coming and I mean every one from your friends and neighbors to brands and politicians and models and celebrities alike have gotten in on the Bernie meme. I could literally post my favorite 100 and that would not even scratch the surface. And you have all seen most of them I am SURE by now anyway. BUT, I have selected a FEW of my faves below but for those of you who are still confused about where it came from here is a quick overview:

I imagine if I were going to the Inauguration I would take this role very seriously…the way Michelle Obama KILLLLLLLLLLLED it fashion wise like:

Or I MAY have gone the super hipster route that the VICE PRESIDENT’S step-daughter, the newest princess of Brooklyn, Ella did when who BROUGHT it with her bedazzled Miu Miu coat AND BATSHEVA dress under it. LOVE.

PS did you see her eyebrow dance?? A viral sensation on TikTok:

Or you could have gone the Gaga aka Hunger Games route which really was a moment and I did half expect her to call up THE TRIBUTES:

But I was actually totally into the look…I mean the bird was a LITTLE much. OK, so yes the ladies BROUGHT it. But the men were pretty good too…AS WERE THE BABIES. BONNET BABY needs his own fashion blog. ALL HAIL BONNET BABY BIDEN:

…and then there was Bernie. Who looked like he was waiting for his train and had THINGS to do. His ski parka and his MITTENS and his “I wish I were anywhere but here” body posture on his fold out chair and CHAIRMAN SANDERS WAS BORN. The pic that set off a million billion memes. BEFORE I get to my faves, I will say I have been asked a lot WHY this meme took off….and I cannot say for sure. Maybe it is just that perfect picture…but I also think it has to do with the fact we can all have a little FUN now…it is a moment of happiness and joy and LIGHTNESS which we haven’t really had in a long time. This meme is not making fun of Bernie but celebrating him and bridging generations who are all in on this. It just HIT US SO GOOD.

AND the mittens…the mittens were handmade by a constituent of Bernie’s and she has been inundated with thousands upon thousands of requests which she cannot absolutely do and she has made it clear her mitten making was for BERNIE AND ONLY BERNIE (or and charity…). Though I know exactly what those mittens feel like…back in my Dead Head days where I wore lots of this kind of thing and it was itchy and hot and like little itchy ovens so NO thank you. BUT there is some great good coming from it and that is BERNIE has turned this meme into a moment by making it into a sweatshirt sold on his campaign website where all proceeds go to MEALS ON WHEELS VERMONT. It is sold out natch, but hoping they release more!

OK, so now for a FEW of my fave memes:

AND MY ABSOLUTE FAVE ONE:

AND…..scene!

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