In a year filled with surprises, it’s the moments we never saw coming that truly stole the spotlight. As 2024 winds down, we look back on moments that dominated our timelines, sparked countless conversations and had us hooked. From catchy phrases to fiery disputes between internet favourites, these moments had us scrolling, hitting replay and sharing.

Here’s Observer Online’s top 10 viral moments of 2024:

Vybz Kartel freed!

Hours before Emancipation Day, the people’s dancehall hero Vybz Kartel walked free after the Court of Appeal ruled against retrying him and his co-accused for the murder of Clive “Lizard” Williams. The decision on July 31 sent shockwaves across the nation, sparking an outpour of celebration and excitement among fans of the self-proclaimed ‘World Boss’. Social media platforms quickly filled with plans for Kartel’s first concert out of prison, which has since been organised for December 31 and dubbed “Freedom Street”. From massive crowds outside the Supreme Court to jubilant celebrations in his hometown of Waterford, St Catherine, Vybz Kartel’s release captured the attention of the entire country. Since then, the artiste has been at the centre of numerous viral moments, with long awaited reunions and catchy phrases such as “am out!” and “It a tape?”

Uber Glitch: NCB vs Jamaica

Social media exploded with confession videos, tears, arguments and think pieces the week of October 29 when over 8,000 customers woke up to find sums deducted from or liens placed on their accounts – chargebacks from the National Commercial Bank for unpaid Uber rides caused by a ‘glitch’ which issued ride refunds. As the saga unfolded, much of it via social media, it captured the attention of Jamaican Twitter and TikTok for days.

Some affected bankers made videos confessing to abusing said glitch, whereas the bank made its own statement indicating that it was considering legal action against certain customers.

Residents weighed in via tweets and videos, some expressing shock at the amounts owed, some giving dubious legal advice, and many choosing sides, either lambasting the bank or the affected customers for not appropriately addressing the so-called glitch.

The Clash: Jada Kingdom vs Stefflon Don

The year 2024 began with the dancehall sphere enlivened by the lyrically-intense diss tracks from Jada Kingdom and British rapper Stefflon Don. The clash began the first weekend in January after Stefflon Don released a track on Rvssian’s Dutty Money Riddim stating that she had a “box” for the woman involved with her man, who many assumed was Nigerian rapper Burna Boy. Jada, who was previously involved with Burna Boy, took to instagram telling Stefflon Don to name the person she was referring to, and the international rapper obliged with the release of “Dat A Dat”. In response, Jada Kingdom dropped “London Bed” in which she referenced the rapper’s alleged tummy tuck and that Stefflon Don did not satisfy Burna Boy during their relationship resulting in its demise. The lyrical sparring escalated with each artiste making certain allegations about the other singer’s family members and close friends. With loyal followers on either side, the jury is still out over who won the clash. We say dancehall won.

Olympics Sagas

The 2024 Paris Olympics is one that Jamaicans will have on their lips for years to come. Incidents surrounding the Games went viral even prior to the start of the competitions when US sprinter Noah Lyles revealed in an interview that he was privy to the happenings in the Jamaican camp from information seemingly provided by his now-fiancee, Jamaican athlete Junelle Bromfield. Social media users, after learning of this, colourfully expressed their displeasure through posts, and comments on the couple’s content. This was only the tip of the iceberg as many Jamaicans continued to show their dislike for the US sprinter and his flamboyant antics going into the summer Games. This was further exacerbated by the controversial men’s 100m final finish, which many, to this day, wrongfully believe was won by Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce pulling out of the women’s 100m final was also a sore point, as many were looking forward to the pocket rocket retiring in style. Some Jamaicans assume that Fraser-Pryce pulled out of the race because she did not get to train enough as she was delayed entry to the warm-up track prior to the semi-finals and final of the women’s 100m. It was however revealed that Fraser-Pryce cited an injury as the reason for pulling out of the event.

Jaii Frais vs. Ton Travels

Popular podcast host Jhaedee ‘Jaii Frais’ Richards and travel influencer Tonya ‘Ton Travels’ Williams went viral earlier this year, but not for their content. The two, who were acquaintances, hit out against each other on social media over Jaii Frais’ rumoured relationship with Miss Jamaica Universe 2020 Miqueal-Symone WIlliams, who Ton Travels seemingly did not like for Jaii Frais as a partner. The incident escalated to Ton Travels accusing Richards of making fun of her mental health when he shared a question to his Instagram stories asking if she was okay. This lead Ton Travels to call Jaii Frais “a b***h” in a video shared to her close friends list on Instagram, but was recorded and shared wider on social media. There was little explanation from Ton Travels’ side however. In response to the backlash Jaii Frais received, he decided to share details, from his perspective, of how things escalated in a 35 minute video on YouTube. At the end of his explanation the podcaster shared a clip presumably of Ton Travels threatening to release explicit photos of a woman if Jaii Frais did not remove a particular video from his page. She subsequently apologised for the threat and took a break from social media stating that she needed to work on her mental health.

Romeich vs Tiktokers at Rebel’s Party

What was supposed to be a celebration of life turned into a beat down at Christina ‘Dancing Rebel’ Nelson’s  birthday party at Mas Camp in November, drawing ire from Jamaicans online and prompting a police investigation.

Videos went viral of several men, one of whom is suspected to be a cop, raining blows and kicks on TikToker TJ. Another content creator, Moya, was reportedly injured as well.

Romeich Major, whom fans on social media accused of ordering at least one attack, was lambasted on social media.

He quickly took to a live video to apologise to the injured TikTokers and others he felt he had let down.

The White Dress: Taveionn vs Tash Fierce

Earlier this year, former best friends and popular content creators Taveionn Telfer and Tash Fierce had us glued to our screens over a picture in a white two-piece skirt set. The drama began when Tash shared a photo of herself in a white two-piece skirt set with a beach backdrop. Taveionn took to her Instagram story, suggesting that Tash had copied her style, which quickly drew the attention of online followers. Choosing to remain silent on her birthday, Tash promised to address the issue in a YouTube video the following day. When the video dropped, Tash fired back, claiming she had worn the outfit before and accused Taveionn of being “bad mind” and “jealous.” She also hinted that Taveionn should focus on her relationship with dancehall star Skillibeng instead of engaging in petty drama. Fans and followers were left divided, with heated debates about whether it was truly a case of imitation or a deeper personal rift.

‘Goodness of God’ in the face of Beryl’s wrath

Hurricane Beryl wreaked havoc across Jamaica on July 3, leaving widespread destruction in its wake as the Category 4 storm battered homes and communities. But in the midst of the chaos, one family’s display of faith resonated deeply with the nation. Reverend Tommy Lee and his God-fearing family found peace in the face of danger as they sang a powerful rendition of the gospel song “Goodness of God” while floodwaters filled their home and the storm raged above them. The emotional moment, captured by the pastor on video and later shared with a friend who sent the video to others, quickly went viral on social media, touching the hearts of many. Reverend Lee explained that it was the spirit of God that overwhelmed his family and led them to worship because at that point in time, “there was peace even though the storm was raging”.

Mrs Netta vs Jamaicans

Social media star Mrs Netta bit off a bit more than she could chew after a trip to Jamaica where she expressed dislike for the local cuisine, including the KFC.  A firestorm of responses immediately bombarded the TikToker, who had gained her popularity through cooking videos for her partner Charles. Jamaicans led the charge with the usual fervor reserved for anyone appearing to ‘diss’ the culture. But people of all nations joined in the fray to defend and express their love for Jamaican food, chastening the American. Following the onslaught Mrs Netta quickly recanted her statement and issued an apology, going as far as to apologise to individual accounts via her TikTok.

‘Mi seh guys, mi seh guys!’

The release of What Can Go So, a collaboration between Macka Diamond and Derrick Morgan, brought the unmistakable vibe of “one heap a passa passa” when it dropped in November of this year. However, the comedic track was quickly met with public backlash, with many Jamaicans criticising it and insisting it had no place on the airwaves. Responding to the critics, Macka Diamond defended her artistry stating that there is room for humour in the music industry and pointing out that despite the negative feedback, the single had been performing well, amassing over half a million views in over a week. The song’s catchy moments, such as the viral “mi seh guys, mi seh guys, one heap a passa passa” have since found new life on TikTok, where clips from the track have become a popular sound.