Kim Kardashian to Kanye West: Celebrity moments that shook the internet

The internet has a huge memory when it comes to iconic celebrity moments. 

From shocking award show interruptions to music videos, some events became so viral they defined pop culture for years.

Here are some of the unforgettable times stars “broke the internet.”

1. Kim Kardashian’s Champagne Shot (2014)

When Kim Kardashian appeared on the cover of Paper magazine in 2014. Her photo wasn’t just a shoot, it was a digital storm. 

Within minutes, the magazine’s site crashed. Memes, parodies, and countless posts flooded every platform. Paper teased it with, “Break the internet, Kim Kardashian.”

The cover became the gold standard for viral celebrity imagery, perfectly timed for the rise of meme culture.

2. Kanye West Interrupts Taylor Swift (2009)

Kanye West’s interruption of Taylor Swift’s speech at the MTV VMAs, left the world shocked. His “Yo, Taylor, I’m really happy for you…” became an instant internet staple.

The moment ignited a cultural divide, sparking remixes, endless memes, and a decade’s worth of references.

As one critic later put it, stating “It was the first viral award show moment of the social media age.”

Even today, it stands as the blueprint for celebrity drama online.

3. Miley Cyrus Swings Into Virality (2013)

Miley Cyrus’ Wrecking Ball video redefined her image, and the internet’s obsession. The sight of the former Disney star swinging on a wrecking ball was shocking, meme worthy, and impossible to ignore.

“It was pop culture’s wrecking ball moment—literally and figuratively,” one fan tweeted at the time.

The video sparked thousands of parodies within days, proving that reinvention could be as viral as controversy.

4. Drake’s Bling Dance (2015)

Drake’s amazing dance moves in the Hotline Bling video quickly grabbed the attention. From the late-night comedians or fast-food brands, everyone jumped on the parody trend.

It showed that sometimes, unintentional awkwardness can create comedy gold that transcends music.