Celebrities Who Got Memorable Meme Moments Of 2023: From Pedro Pascal And 'Barbie'

Jimmy Henton
Dec 17, 2023
Dec 17, 2023

In the rollercoaster of celebrity antics in 2023, memes took the spotlight, and Pedro Pascal emerged as the undisputed king of hilarity. Revisiting a scene from his 2022 film with Nicolas Cage, "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent," a TikTok template turned their coastal drive into an internet sensation. Cage's glum look and Pascal's beaming smile spoke volumes—perfect for depicting the regrettable aftermath of agreeing to a late-night sleepover.

But Pascal's meme reign didn't stop there. A simple act of sandwich-eating catapulted him back into viral stardom on TikTok, proving that even mundane moments can become internet gold. As Pascal's meme game dominated the earlier part of the year, the latter half belonged to none other than Barbie. From showcasing the diverse world of Barbie dolls and their quirky occupations to Ken effortlessly being his fabulous self, the internet embraced Barbie mania with open arms.

So, get ready to dive into the laughter-packed universe of the most uproarious celebrity memes that defined 2023!

#1. Rihanna’s Super Bowl Dancers

Source: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Rihanna owned the Super Bowl halftime show in January, revealing her pregnancy while belting out her chart-toppers. Dressed in striking red, she shared the stage with a battalion of dancers sporting stylish white jumpsuits. Their coordinated entrance became an internet sensation, spawning numerous memes with witty captions.

One user humorously likened them to "Nick Cannon’s soldiers heading to work," and another quipped about "Swifties arriving to slash egg prices by 13% after Taylor's call to action." The online world couldn't resist turning this sensational moment into a meme-filled spectacle.

#2. Angela Bassett Did the Thing

Source: Youtube

At the British Academy Film Awards, host Ariana DeBose kicked off the evening with a rap that caught the internet's attention. Shouting out actresses nominated for the night, it was DeBose's reference to Angela Bassett that stole the spotlight. "Angela Bassett did the thing.

Viola Davis, my Woman King," she exclaimed. "Blanchett Cate, you’re a genius. Jamie Lee [Curtis], you are all of us."

Bassett, who went on to win three awards, including Entertainer of the Year, playfully acknowledged DeBose's rap in her acceptance speech: "I guess Angela Bassett did the thing, huh?" The moment went viral, prompting DeBose to deactivate her Twitter account.

Concerned about the online reactions, Bassett reached out to DeBose to ensure she was doing well. "I just wanted to make sure she was OK because, you know, it’s a lot of attention," Bassett shared at the NAACP Awards. "And she is A-OK."

#3. ‘Make Your Own Kind Of Music’

Source: YouTube

Pascal and Cage's on-screen bromance became an internet sensation when a scene from their movie went viral on TikTok. The clip features Cage shooting Pascal an irritated glance while driving along the coast, with Pascal responding with a blissful smile. TikTok users embraced the moment, using it to depict various scenarios where one person is annoyed while the other reacts with pure joy.

Upon learning about their TikTok fame, Cage expressed bewilderment about the concept of going viral but was pleased to hear that fans were enjoying the snippet. "Pedro's a great actor," Cage mentioned in an interview at the Miami Film Festival in March. "We had a lot of fun together, so I'm happy it's making people happy."

#4. Pedro Pascal’s Sandwich

Source: Youtube

Shortly after Pascal ignited the internet with his viral scene alongside Cage, the Last of Us star found himself in meme territory once again—this time, for indulging in a sandwich. Pascal took part in a March episode of Snack Wars, a show where stars explore treats from around the world, sharing the stage with Jon Favreau. During the taste test, Pascal gracefully bit into a sandwich, holding it with finesse as he savored the flavors.

A TikTok user seized the opportunity, reposting the moment with a melancholic soundtrack as Pascal enjoyed his sandwich. The clip evolved into a versatile template, placing Pascal in numerous scenarios, from taking a work break to navigating through natural disasters.

#5. This ‘Barbie’ Is

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Before Barbie's highly anticipated summer debut, a sneak peek of all the featured Barbies and Kens hit the internet. In this introduction, each doll's image graced a pink bubble, accompanied by a description of their profession, ranging from "This Barbie is a lawyer" to the succinct "He's Just Ken."

While fans were enamored with the star-studded cast, many yearned to see themselves as part of the iconic lineup. An online Barbie selfie generator emerged, allowing people to transform into their own Barbie avatars. However, the internet being the creative hub it is, memes quickly sprouted during the process. Users took various characters and celebrities, playfully transforming them into Barbie personas.

One meme humorously portrayed Ben Affleck looking unimpressed, dubbing him "Depressed Barbie," while another showcased Taylor Swift with the caption, "This Barbie is in her eras era."

#6. Kenergy

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Amidst the wave of Barbie memes, Ken stood faithfully by her side, embracing every moment. His online presence gained momentum after the release of the official trailer. Social media users seized the opportunity to draw comparisons between fictional couples and real-life exes, humorously framing them as the iconic toy duo.

"They were the true [version of Barbie and Ken], 'She's everything ... and he's just Ken,'" quipped one user via X, pairing a photo of Elle Woods and Warren Huntington III from Legally Blonde with the statement.

The meme saga continued as Ryan Gosling embodied "Kenergy" in the film, sparking a plethora of online spoofs. Ken, in the movie, declares his job as "just beach," prompting the internet to playfully mock other characters with seemingly similar occupations. From Tom Cruise in Top Gun to Larry the Lobster from SpongeBob, the laughs kept coming.

#7. Barbenheimer'

Source: Courtesy of Warner Bro. Studios

While Barbie dominated the summer box office, it faced formidable competition in the form of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. Anticipating a fierce showdown between these divergent films, the internet transformed into a double feature, offering a plethora of memes to revel in the cinematic clash.

One user shared an image featuring a vibrant beach house resembling Barbie’s dream abode, juxtaposed with an adjacent black-painted house. The caption humorously suggested, “We’re about to find out that the Santa Monica houses have been a 20-year viral marketing stunt for #Barbenheimer.”

In another meme, Cillian Murphy as Oppenheimer received a 'This Ken Is' treatment. The post playfully declared, “This ken is death, the destroyer of worlds.”

Reflecting on the blockbuster showdown, Margot Robbie and Cillian Murphy discussed the unique pairing in December. Robbie disclosed that producers proposed moving the Barbie premiere, but she stood her ground. "I think this is a really great pairing, actually," she expressed during Variety's "Actors on Actors" series. "It’s a perfect double billing, Oppenheimer and Barbie."

#8. Kevin James ‘King of Queens’ Smirk

Source: Maureen Donaldson/Getty Images

In September, the internet witnessed the resurgence of an old photo of James from his stint on the CBS sitcom. The snapshot captures James, in character as Doug Heffernan, smirking at the camera with his hands casually tucked into his pockets.

Know Your Meme credits the image's sudden popularity to a user who posted it with the caption, "Me after 1 double rum and diet," giving birth to a new meme sensation.

Embracing the trending moment, James himself joined in on the fun. Sharing the iconic photo, he added a witty caption: "Gearing up for my new Stand Up Tour... so happy I found this headshot."