From moments of heartbreak to resilience to humour, 2025 was a year of mixed emotions for Jamaicans, experienced in real-time through timelines, livestreams and trending hashtags. Whether sparked by natural disaster, national events or unexpected internet sensations, these incidents moved us, entertained us and, in many cases, brought us together, ultimately shaping how the year will be remembered.

Here’s a look back at some of Jamaica’s most viral moments of 2025:

Resilient hearts of Hurricane Melissa 

Kenrick Smith of Carawina Road in Petersfield, Westmoreland, recounts jumping from his house when it took flight during Hurricane Melissa on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. (Photo: Gavin Jones)

Hurricane Melissa made history as the strongest hurricane ever to strike the island, making landfall October 28 as a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of approximately 185 mph (295 km/h) and leaving widespread destruction across western Jamaica and at least 45 people dead.

However, even in the midst of devastation, powerful individual stories emerged that captured both heartbreak and the resilience of Jamaicans in crisis.

Among the most moving were the tearful pleas of Sharon Wright, which touched the nation; Christopher’s positivity despite piles of debris where his stall at Scott’s Cove Fish Park once stood; and the light-hearted retelling from Kenrick Smith, whose “I never book dah flight deh” description of his house being blown away offered moments of humour amid the pain.

To date, numerous families are still struggling to pick up the pieces but Hurricane Melissa has also inspired a strong sense of community spirit and togetherness with support pouring in from across Jamaica and the wider regional and international community.

KFC’s chicken frenzy

A large crowd of people wait to enter KFC on King Street in downtown Kingston. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

KFC Jamaica’s 50th anniversary wasn’t just a celebration, it was a full-blown national event, and Jamaicans went all out. The fast-food giant marked its golden milestone with giveaways, in-store promotions and charitable donations, but the real crowd-puller was the epic birthday offer: buy a Big Deal (three-piece chicken combo) and get a complimentary Meal Deal (two-piece combo) for free.

Jamaicans marked Wednesday, June 18, 2025, on their calendars, lining up early and even camping outside outlets to secure their deals. By opening time, lines had already wrapped around buildings, and as the day went on, tensions ran high at some locations, prompting the Jamaica Constabulary Force to maintain order.

The frenzy didn’t end without plenty of social media buzz. Videos and photos of excited crowds flooded timelines, sparking debates over whether the chaos was worth it. Regardless of opinions, the day produced some of the funniest, most memorable moments of 2025, cementing the fast food restaurants’ 50th celebration as a viral highlight for Jamaicans.

‘Time Come’ to ‘Choose Jamaica’

From verbal jabs hurled at opponents on the campaign trail to high-energy dancehall dub plates and surprise guest appearances by popular artistes, the 2025 General Election provided plenty of viral moments.

The rivalry between Jamaica’s two major parties intensified in the days leading up to the September 3 polls, most notably through clashes over campaign posters across several constituencies. In some areas, posters were deliberately placed side by side to send competing messages. One of the most talked-about examples was the People’s National Party (PNP) “Time Come” slogan, which was quickly reframed when a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) “To Choose Jamaica” poster appeared beside it, turning political advertising into a visual war of words.

On the campaign trail, both parties leaned heavily into dancehall culture to energise supporters. The PNP featured performances by Beenie Man, Yaksta and QQ at a parish meeting in Cross Roads, St Andrew, while the JLP countered with appearances by Mr Vegas and Jahshii at a mass rally in Half Way Tree.

The People’s National Party’s election song, Marching on to Progress, was also a standout feature of the 2025 campaign. The track went viral online due to its energetic and catchy hook. Notably, members of the opposing JLP were also seen enjoying the song.

Another major highlight of the political season was the 2025 General Election debates, particularly the clashes on social issues and leadership.

The social issues debate featured a face-off between the PNP’s Damion Crawford, Raymond Pryce and Sophia Frazer-Binns, and the JLP’s Pearnel Charles Jr, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith and Matthew Samuda.

Meanwhile, the leadership debate between Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Mark Golding focused on national issues, but also saw both men trading personal blows. Both political parties claimed victory following the debates.

The September 3 General Election culminated in the JLP securing a third consecutive term in office.

Mandeville shootout

LA Lewis observed infront of the Caledonia Road apartment in Mandeville with a crystal ball on Wednesday, September 10. (Photo: Kasey William)

On September 9, Jamaica was brought to a standstill as news outlets and social media livestreams broadcast a tense four-hour standoff between a gunman and security forces at an apartment complex on Caledonia Road in Mandeville, Manchester. The incident unfolded like a movie scene, drawing nationwide attention.

The incident began shortly after 7:00 am following an altercation, reportedly over the price of eggs, between the suspect, Dave Wilson, otherwise called “Brown Man”, and a vendor. Wilson allegedly shot the vendor, who managed to drive away before crashing into another vehicle. He was later pronounced dead at hospital.

Security forces then converged at Wilson’s apartment, where he reportedly fired at officers from a ground-floor unit, leading to a prolonged exchange of gunfire. The shooting subsided sometime after 1:00 pm and the police confirmed that the suspect was killed. Two armoured vehicles and a truck had to be used to breach the premises and remove a grille during the security forces’ entry.

Authorities said they recovered a multi-calibre Omni hybrid rifle, a Beretta pistol with an extended magazine, and more than 450 rounds of ammunition.

The incident remained a talking point the following day when entertainer LA Lewis visited the scene, filming videos and placing what appeared to be a crystal ball outside the complex.

The Beenie Man “doubles” Saga

Beenie Man (File photo)

The year started with an unexpected diplomatic food war in February when dancehall icon Beenie Man, given name Moses Anthony Davis, appeared on the Drink Champs podcast. While expressing his love for Trinidad and Tobago, the Girls Dem Sugar sparked an international firestorm when he admitted he doesn’t eat doubles, Trinidad’s iconic street food made of curried chickpeas (channa) tucked between two soft fried breads (bara).

What triggered the controversy was the artiste’s claim that he avoids the delicacy because “dogs don’t eat doubles” and that he doesn’t eat anything a dog wouldn’t.

Social media exploded with memes, and Caribbean heavyweights like Nicki Minaj and Machel Montano weighed in. Even then Foreign Affairs Minister for Trinidad, Dr Amery Browne, joined in, making a social media post with the country’s flag and captioning it with the words, “Sim Simma”.

The fallout saw calls for a boycott of Beenie Man’s music and future concerts, prompting the artiste to eventually issue a heartfelt apology to the people of the twin-island republic to mend the rift.

TikTok Election

The September 3 General Election wasn’t the only election to capture national attention in 2025. Shortly after that election was contested, social media influencers staged the island’s first-ever TikTok Elections, dubbed “Clock App Decides”. Two online parties went head-to-head— For Jamaican People (FJP), led by popular TikToker Bad Sekki, and the Jamaica National Party (JNP), led by Ganja Clauze.

The mock elections were contested across 15 parishes, including Portmore, and featured a leaders’ debate hosted by podcaster Jhaedee “Jaii Frais” Richards. Voting was conducted online, with more than 20,000 votes cast. FJP emerged victorious in 14 parishes, while JNP secured a single win in St Andrew through its representative, Pops YG.

The parody elections were so viral that even the country’s Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness was tuned in, with both Bad Sekki and Ganja Clauze being invited to King’s House for Holness’ swearing-in ceremony, where they met the prime minister.

Following the election results, TikTok users jokingly crowned Bad Sekki as “Dr the Honourable Bad Sekki”, while Ganja Clauze conceded defeat.

Masicka vs Tommy Lee dancehall clash

Masicka (left) and Tommy Lee.

The year ended with a rapid-fire lyrical clash between Masicka and Tommy Lee Sparta. The feud ignited when Tommy Lee fired shots at the Genasyde boss in his single Control, seemingly accusing Masicka of subliminally ‘dissing’ Vybz Kartel.

Though neither Masicka nor Kartel confirmed any beef, speculation has swirled since Reggae Sumfest earlier in the year, where Masicka dubbed himself the GOAT (greatest of all time) shortly after Kartel’s crowning as King of Dancehall. Many fans believe a dispute over titles sparked the current clash.

Masicka responded with Vain, again asserting his GOAT status while dismissing Tommy Lee as an unworthy challenger. The exchanges escalated with Tommy Lee’s Destroyer and Masicka’s rebuttal Tears, followed by multiple rounds, including Tommy Lee’s Dirth Day, and Masicka’s Death Row and System.

The lyrical war has since energised the dancehall space, drawing strong support from both fan bases and fellow artistes. Entertainment interests have also agreed that the clash is good for the culture, as long as it stays strictly lyrical.

It also led to ‘Gaza’ artiste Shawn Storm’s hit song Itch Scratch, which he said he decided to pen after his name was mentioned by Masicka in one of the Genasyde deejay’s diss tracks towards Tommy Lee.

Drezel Simmonds vs Chad Walker

Drezel Simmonds and Chad Walker.

Influencer Drezel Simmonds and ex-boyfriend Chad Walker had many social media users on the edge of their seats in what is certainly one of 2025’s most infamous “battle of the exes”. The pair went public with their relationship earlier in the year, but as joint posts slowed, followers began speculating that the romance had ended.

The drama escalated when Walker posted on Instagram claiming that his expensive gold chain had gone missing and offered a reward for its return. Though the post initially drew little attention, it was key to the unfolding dispute.

Tensions flared after Simmonds shared a video using a popular sound by TikToker Derrick Morgan, which Walker took as a subtle jab towards his sexuality. He then responded publicly, making a series of allegations about Simmonds’ lifestyle, past and the nature of their relationship.

Simmonds fired back with an hour-long YouTube video, presenting recordings and screenshots to dispute Walker’s claims. She firmly denied his allegations, describing them as an attempt to damage her reputation, and ended her response by encouraging women to leave relationships that no longer serve them.

The feud continued when Walker appeared on Toxic Talk with Jaii Frais, where he responded to Simmonds’ video and doubled down on his accusations. While the interview racked up views on YouTube, his allegations were widely rejected by the public, with many viewers pointing out inconsistencies and contradictions in his statements. Since then, clips from the appearance have become fodder for memes, while several businesses have publicly thrown their support behind Simmonds through pointed social media marketing.

Taboo Boyz

Members of the Reggae Boyz were seen partying at Taboo hours after finishing behind Curaçao in the final round of the Concacaf World Cup Qualifying, missing out on booking their spot to the 2026 World Cup.

On November 18, the National Stadium was bursting through the seams with yellow as fans turned out in full force to see Jamaica qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup. Coming just weeks after the devastation of Hurricane Melissa, the match carried emotional weight and was seen as a chance for national relief and pride.

But optimism quickly turned to disappointment as what many expected to be a decisive win ended in a 0–0 draw, leaving the Reggae Boyz behind Curaçao on 11 points in the final round of the Concacaf World Cup Qualifying.

The fallout was swift, with head coach Steve McClaren resigning less than an hour after the final whistle.

Public frustration intensified when photos and videos surfaced online showing players partying after the match. The optics sparked outrage and earned the team the unflattering nickname “Taboo Boyz”. Even sprint legend Usain Bolt weighed in, openly sharing his disappointment and suggesting the team played with little heart given what was at stake.

Still, Jamaica’s World Cup dream is not over. The Reggae Boyz now face a do-or-die test in March’s inter-confederation playoffs, where they must overcome Oceania’s New Caledonia and DR Congo to book a spot at next year’s World Cup. Whether the “Taboo Boyz” can silence critics and rise to the challenge remains to be seen.

Lionel Messi in Jamaica

If Lionel Messi and Inter Miami had any doubt about the love Jamaicans have for the Argentine “GOAT”, they were dispelled the moment they stepped onto the island on March 13.

The Inter Miami team visited for a game against Jamaica’s Cavalier FC in the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 qualification campaign, but there was no pretence over who the fans were there to see. Pink and black jerseys flooded the National Stadium, which was jam-packed to capacity, as Jamaicans capitalised on the opportunity to see one of the greatest footballers on the planet.

When he took the field in the 53rd minute, the stands erupted into a frenzy with chants of “Messi!”. And at the 92nd minute, in true Messi form, he delighted the supporters, scoring the second goal of the match to ensure victory for his side on Jamaican soil.

Cavaliers carried no hard feelings, exchanging shirts with the Inter Miami players in a display of camaraderie, capping a night those present will not soon forget.

‘Dingie gone a hell headway’

Improbable as it is, the name Dingie now holds significant, hilarious meaning for Jamaicans after what was supposed to be a sombre funeral service turned into an internet sensation when not one but two women were captured on camera telling mourners that the deceased, Noel Vincent White, otherwise called Dingie, “gone a hell”.

The definite break from unspoken Jamaican funeral service tradition, where the dead are traditionally spoken of with reverence, shocked viewers when the first video declared that “Dingie nuh gone a heaven” began making the rounds.

Later joined by another video, it caused pandemonium on social media with Jamaicans speculating on what Dingie could have done in his life. It spawned reaction videos, recreations and even a song posted to YouTube.

Eventually, one of the women, identified as his sister, who had said “Dingie gone a hell headway”, clarified her statement in an interview with The Jamaica Star, indicating that her words had been more of a response to a pastor saying her brother was in heaven when he had not lived a Christian life, rather than an attack on his character.

Honourable mentions

This year’s viral moments can’t be recapped without mentioning the Coldplay cheating scandal, where the Astronomer CEO and his chief people officer were caught embracing on the Jumbotron at a Coldplay concert in Boston, publicly exposing their affair to thousands in the stadium and ultimately millions worldwide as the clip gained international attention. The incident led to significant public fallout for both executives.

The year also gave us TikTok star Candy’s trending slangs, “Mi dear” and “Paaay dead gyal”, which flooded pages everywhere; Dee Official’s viral “One by One” story recount that was later converted into a song; and, of course, the mix of dramatic moments, notable victories and heartwarming interactions that made the 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships especially memorable for Jamaicans.