The summer of 2025 was loud, messy and unforgettable. From surprising celebrity pairings and extravagant weddings to blockbusters and headline-grabbing reunions, this summer flew by in a blur of spectacle and scandal.
The summer of celebrity headlines
The summer’s headline madness began with Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez, whose Venice wedding was equal parts opulence and controversy featuring a star-studded guestlist, a rented-out floating city and endless debate over excess. In contrast, Charli xcx chose an understated Instagram post to reveal that she had tied the knot with her long-time partner, George Daniel of The 1975.
For celebrities, love seemed to be in the air. In early August, Portuguese soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo proposed to Georgina Rodríguez with a nearly $3 million ring, which Rodríguez proudly flaunted later that month at the Venice Film Festival. The biggest engagement story of the summer came when Taylor Swift announced her engagement to Travis Kelce on Instagram, timed perfectly with the rollout of her latest album.
Political rumor mills continued to spin after photos surfaced of former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at dinner with pop singer Katy Perry. Fans later spotted Trudeau at Perry’s Ottawa tour stop.
Meanwhile, a social media between Donald Trump and Elon Musk became one of the season’s more inevitable spectacles.
Rounding out the tabloid circuit, Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson garnered speculation during the press tour for The Naked Gun with some assuming they had shared an on-set fling and were dating, though TMZ later reported that the pair had not seen each other since filming wrapped, calling the whole ordeal a “fauxmance.”
Big screen, bigger flops
While early buzz carried Superman to box office success, many other blockbusters failed to ignite fans’ enthusiasm. Long running and trusted franchises such as Mission: Impossible and Jurassic World struggled to engage their audience. Even with two movies premiering this summer, the Marvel Cinematic Universe continued to flounder, unable to regain their former numbers despite taking a bold new direction.
The surprise hit of the summer was KPop Demon Hunters. While not initially released in theatres, the film quickly caught fire on Netflix, becoming a must-watch for viewers at home. The film’s popularity was even recognized on the Billboard Hot 100, with original song “Golden” hitting No. 1.
Nostalgia remained Hollywood’s go-to formula, whether it was the Netflix release of Happy Gilmore 2 or big budget franchise revivals that barely broke even. Yet nostalgia still proved powerful when a sequel to The Devil Wears Prada began filming in New York, something fans have waited nearly two decades for.
Reunions and Revelations
Every summer has its tour headliners and 2025 was no exception. Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter world tour was the hottest ticket of the summer. The three-hour spectacle showcased an artist raising the bar yet again, with the final show including a surprise Destiny’s Child reunion in Las Vegas.
Oasis also launched their first tour since 2009. With the Gallaghers sharing the stage again, fans were left wondering whether the brothers had finally buried the hatchet or their infamous feud would resurface.
Not all concert headlines were music related. At a Coldplay show in New York, an affair was exposed on the jumbotron, sparking an online frenzy that led to the resignation of both individuals involved, CEO and CPO at the data company Astronomer. In a savvy PR move, the company quickly enlisted Gwyneth Paltrow to clean up the company’s image in a new ad campaign. The use of Paltrow, given her history with Coldplay front man Chris Martian, was a clever way of acknowledging the story without saying the quiet part out loud.
Elsewhere in music, Benson Boone released a new album, American Heart, that was quickly panned by critics. The singer seemed to take the criticism in stride and may be pivoting toward a new direction.
Reality T.V.’s Love Island USA season seven captured viewers’ feeds and screens, proving once again that summer is the season of messy romance, drama and confessionals you can binge from the couch.
The feed never stops
In the waterfall of internet culture, one viral meme stood above the rest: “a Jet2holidays.” This campaign spread globally, turning the British airline into a household name that can be used in almost any situation.
September also marked the end of an era for fashion publishing, as Anna Wintour mentioned in June that she would be stepping down as Editor-in-Chief of Vogue.
Netflix’s hype machine once again took over the airwaves in promotion for the newest season of Wednesday. The promotion included countless brand collaborations, including a limited-edition “Meal of Misfortune” from Wendy’s.
Nearing the end of the summer, Cardi B stole courtroom headlines, appearing unfazed by the case brought against her.
The Denim Wars
This summer also brought an unlikely battleground for celebrity endorsements: denim. After Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle campaign went viral for all the wrong reasons, the backlash opened the door for competitors to seize the spotlight. Levi’s responded with Beyoncé’s high-profile Denim Cowboy campaign, while Lucky Brand tapped Addison Rae.
It was “Better in Denim”, Gap’s collaboration with K-pop group Katseye, that truly stole the spotlight this season. This campaign gave virality a whole new meaning. With choreography by Robbie Blue, styling by Zac Posen and Kelis’ iconic “Milkshake” as its soundtrack, the ad and accompanying dance didn’t just dominate the internet, it redefined what consumers want from fashion marketing.
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The defining theme of the summer was neither scandal nor spectacle. From star-studded weddings and surprise engagements to stadium tours, bold ad campaigns and viral moments that entered the lexicon — the culture of 2025 was shaped not by the stories but by the conversations they sparked.